Digital Underclass 2: The future of books and libraries

[xg4bx]

Originally Posted by kennyc

My bolding, resizing and coloring!!!

lol i'm very libertarian/financially conservative but i'm also a big fan of literacy, science, art, culture etc. what use is a free society if its filled with mindless, uneducated buffoons or those who can't even understand their freedoms? an uneducated populace allows for the growth of tyranny.

i believe that any government owes its citizens at least that very first and most important step no matter which part of the political spectrum you're on. i think libraries enhance both culture and freedom so therefore i'm for them.

[GreenMonkey]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

lol i'm very libertarian/financially conservative but i'm also a big fan of literacy, science, art, culture etc. what use is a free society if its filled with mindless, uneducated buffoons or those who can't even understand their freedoms? an uneducated populace allows for the growth of tyranny.

i believe that any government owes its citizens at least that very first and most important step no matter which part of the political spectrum you're on. i think libraries enhance both culture and freedom so therefore i'm for them.

I'm technically a libertarian (but a liberal-leaning one for sure rather than the more common libertarian of the conservative fiscal type).

I think you'll find most libertarians with a knowledge of history at all are for libraries. Because a foundation and a prerequisite of democracy is a well-educated populace - without it, democracy fails. Part of the reason it doesn't work so well in some parts of the world.

[Falbe Publishing]

Originally Posted by mldavis2

Some of the answer lies in how quickly the libraries are willing and financially able to adjust to changing markets. I live in a smallish town of around 10,000 and the library is a growing, changing service. They supply a dozen computers for internet access for those who are unable to afford a computer, they loan (rent) e-Readers, they host children's reading groups, they display exhibits ranging from civil war artifacts to author signings, they host book discussion groups. Some of this may go the way of the dinosaur, but in a community where many have no jobs and/or cannot afford to buy a $100 eReader or pay a $30/month online connection fee or purchase a $1000 computer or $500 tablet every few years, it is an oasis.

The oasis comparison is absolutely true. Libraries represent the only venue I can think of that services those without computers and internet. When I didn't have internet for 9 days this spring because of tornado damage, the library was my only way to access the internet. It is the only place a person can go to get online if he or she is unable to have this at home. I've used the libraries in all the communities I've lived in. They are invariably popular and busy. Yes, some people are there for the computer and internet access. And many people are there for the books and other media. Where I live now the library is sustained by a big endowment and it provides a wonderful collection and services. Some communities may choose to let their libraries die from lack of funding but I can't imagine a library going away because of lack of visitors.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

I'm technically a libertarian (but a liberal-leaning one for sure rather than the more common libertarian of the conservative fiscal type).

That about sums me up too.

Libertarians for Libraries

[kennyc]

I am NOT changing my avatar to a MONKEY!

[Connallmac]

I posted the following yesterday in the article's comment section,

"You don't need to have a credit card to do business with Amazon. I have my account set up to charge my Visa debit card, which debits my checking account when I purchase a kindle book. For those that do not qualify for a checking account, pre-paid debit cards are widely available and can be used in a similar fashion. Finally, you can already purchase Amazon gift cards at places like CVS, Kroger, Target, etc. My wife actually bought one as a birthday gift the other day for my niece who is about to turn 10 and is saving up to buy a kindle.".

The op replied today, "@connallmac Interesting, thanks. I was unaware you could do that.".

So I wonder if we'll see any corrections to the original article?

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

It is October now. Where is the Overdrive service?

Someone should have reminded me that October wasn't even half-way done when I posted this.

I went to the library today, to get a card and to check the place out, and apparently their Overdrive page went live yesterday! Wohoo! They still have only a small selection of books but the librarian that took down my card application said that will change as they add more and more.

And that place was busy! I actually had difficulties finding a parking spot, and there was a 10-minute wait to the front counter both when I went to sign up for a library card and when I came back later to check out books. I was going to sit and read in a corner for a while, but all corners were taken. There literally were no empty seats left, people were sitting on the floor reading.

I'm now going to go spread karma all over this thread to thank everyone for talking about libraries and reminding me that I really needed to hunt one down. And then you'll have to excuse me for the rest of the day... I have a pile of Ellery Queen mysteries that I need to get reacquainted with.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I do have one problem with the recent addition of Kindle format ebooks to the ebook lending program for my library system (done through Overdrive). Even though I have a Sony device and always check out epub books, I decided to try out checking out a Kindle format book to see how it works. One must actually download from Amazon and have an account with Amazon versus with the epub books just needing a library card. I am actually trying to convince the other Friends of Library governing body to go with either Sony or Nook devices instead of Kindles for this.

Don't you have to own your own computer to use overdrive on a Nook?

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Don't you have to own your own computer to use overdrive on a Nook?

I actually do not know how it works with a Nook. I will find out soon as I just ordered a refurbished Nook Color. I know that for my Sony reader that I just download from the Overdrive site using ADE (on my computer at home or one of the public use computers at my library) and than transfer the downloaded ebook to my reader. I would assume that it will work the same for the Nook. The major point being is that all is required is my library card, not a credit card and account with Amazon and the download is from Overdrive, not Amazon.

This may be a big city mentality, but I've noticed that the nature of libraries has been changing for well over a decade. They are changing so much that the book lending part may be becoming less relevant, while the shared access to resources (both literacy and data based) is becoming more significant.

A lot of these resources are also people oriented. You go to libraries to pick the minds of librarians, meet authors, learn with friends (i.e. the provide a space to study). I think that this may be a bit of a push back from the isolating nature of technology. After all, why would you need to leave your home when everything is at your fingertips online? The most obvious answer is to share your time and interests with others.

So maybe the lending part of libraries will become insignificant while their role in learning and spreading literature via other avenues will grow ... meaning that the vulgarities of ebooks will be irrelevant.

[soulfuldog]

One of the reasons I was slow to buy an e-reader is my concern of what will happen to libraries. I used to be a regular user of a couple of local libraries, but haven't been back since I bought my Kindle.

I'll probably spend more money buying books now, even when e-lending becomes available locally, so on the one hand that's a good thing. Can't see me using my library card again though, and that's clearly not a good thing.

+1 to BWinmill's post.

[RHWright]

Originally Posted by emellaich

So, I know that this isn't popular, and I've posted similar thoughts before and met with resounding silence, but here goes (Most of these thoughts are specific to the U.S. situation).

I'm not sure that libraries in there current form should continue to exist. What is their purpose? Some questions that occur:
- Should we take money from taxpayers so that people who can buy books of their own get the books for free?

Absolutely. And, BTW, not everyone can afford to buy books, especially in the volume they borrow from the library. The literacy benefits far outweigh the costs to the community.

- Should we take money from authors by looking to buy a single book and making it available to the public?

So, basically, you're challenging the whole idea of a library altogether? As a writer, again, I think the benefits outweigh the costs. And it's good marketing. How many readers discover new authors by trying them out for free first?

- Why is there a duplicate library system between schools and the public library?

I don't believe this is necessarily the case. School libraries have particular aims. The public library serves the community as a whole. Careful coordination and management of resources reduces unnecessary overlap, in my experience.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by l_macd

I'll probably spend more money buying books now, even when e-lending becomes available locally, so on the one hand that's a good thing. Can't see me using my library card again though, and that's clearly not a good thing.

You will if you ever get into e-lending. They require a valid library card.

Originally Posted by RHWright

I don't believe this is necessarily the case. School libraries have particular aims. The public library serves the community as a whole. Careful coordination and management of resources reduces unnecessary overlap, in my experience.

In Sweden larger school libraries very often double as public libraries since 95% of schools are public schools. So they are on school grounds but open to the public (with security doors between the library and the school, for obvious reasons).

That means there is a public library or two in each school district, and then the main city library is the base camp/head quarters that all other libraries work through. It's a good system in that school libraries get more money and resources, and there's a lot more libraries in any town than I've seen since moving. I don't think I ever lived outside walking distance to a library growing up, particularly not while I was going to the junior high school that also had the biggest public library in that part of town.

A side-effect is that everyone who goes to public school has access to big libraries and their resources as well.

[rdfry]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I actually do not know how it works with a Nook. I will find out soon as I just ordered a refurbished Nook Color. I know that for my Sony reader that I just download from the Overdrive site using ADE (on my computer at home or one of the public use computers at my library) and than transfer the downloaded ebook to my reader. I would assume that it will work the same for the Nook. The major point being is that all is required is my library card, not a credit card and account with Amazon and the download is from Overdrive, not Amazon.

Some libraries do not support down loading on their computers, so you would have to root the Nook color and put the Overdrive app on it.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

The major point being is that all is required is my library card, not a credit card and account with Amazon and the download is from Overdrive, not Amazon.

No, you're missing the point. All that is required is *not* a library card. All that is required is a library card, a computer, *and* internet access. Which can be problematic for people below the poverty line.

None of our libraries allow you to download anything to their computers.