Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Bookless Library article
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42339223/ns/today-books/?GT1=43001 Here's the highlight from this link that will get you all curious..... Newport Beach is mulling a plan to strip its original library, the Balboa Branch, of many if not all of 35,000 books DVDs and stacks of research material. The 50-year-old library would become a kind of de facto community center — a place where citizens could gather, chat without fear of being shushed by a stern librarian, and surf the web. But if they really wanted a book, they could still get one: All they’d have to do is march up to a voice-activated electronic kiosk; speak with a librarian at one of the city’s three other branches; order it, a la Netflix; and wait by the library’s traditional fireplace for it to be dropped off at a locker on site, according to the Los Angeles Times The voice-activated electronic kiosk is what caught my interest to read the rest of the article and looks like Nicolle's questions to us about the future of library spaces seems to be a larger discussion happening at a broader spectrum....Padma
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In Outreach Services, we have looked and researched the drop off holds lockers at a number of library systems. We looked at this when we weren't sure a mobile bookmobile was going to be a reality.
ReplyDeleteBut the voice-activated component is new to me and I can really see that taking off.
Yes, Padma, I think May library is kind of a Cultural Center of this type. Instead of voice-activated components patrons have alive librarians, who can provide much more services than ordering books.And Smoky has a room with a fire. We are a very special library that meets the demands of the local population in this area. I still believe that Libraries will survive, as long as there are people like Mark Haddon and Phillip Pullman, who led rallies "to save the libraries", to stay informed, intelligent, useful, kind and full of imagination.
ReplyDeleteTanya
Although I think it's a bit sad to have a library(or exlibrary) with no books in sight, I do think that the concept of the library as place is the way of the future. As our culture and lives become more and more isolated, these types of safe spaces for community members to gather will be essential. And, I totally agree with Tanya that the May Library is already meeting this need in our community. Luckily, however, we still have actual books in our stacks for patrons to browse and peruse. I like having both the community center and the books.
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