International and Comparative Librarianship

DEDICATED TO PIONEERS   INCLUDING:
S. R. Ranganathan, P. N. Kaula, R. N. Sharma, J. F. Harvey, D. J. Foskett, J. P. Danton, M. M. Jackson, etc.
This Blogosphere has a slant towards India [a.k.a Indica, Indo, South-Asian, Oriental, Bharat, Hindustan, Asian-Indian (not American Indian)].

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

The bad news ... even 25 years after its invention, not everything is available on the Internet; The good news ... 33 reasons why libraries with physical books still matter

(Pew Internet’s survey explored in depth what people do at libraries)



  • 33 reasons why books, libraries and librarians are still extremely important, by Will Sherman (quoted at Cites & Insights):
1. Not everything is available on the internet
2. Digital libraries are not the internet
3. The internet isn’t free
4. The internet complements libraries, but it doesn’t replace them
5. School libraries and librarians improve student test scores
6. Digitization doesn’t mean destruction
7. In fact, digitization means survival
8. Digitization is going to take a while. A long while.
9. Libraries aren’t just books
10. Mobile devices aren’t the end of books, or libraries
11. The hype might really just be hype
12. Library attendance isn’t falling—it’s just more virtual now
13. Like businesses, digital libraries still need human staffing
14. We just can’t count on physical libraries disappearing
15. Google Book Search “don’t work”
16. Physical libraries can adapt to cultural change
17. Physical libraries are adapting to cultural change
18. Eliminating libraries would cut short an important process of cultural evolution
19. The internet isn’t DIY
20. Wisdom of crowds is untrustworthy, because of the tipping point
21. Librarians are the irreplaceable counterparts to web moderators
22. Unlike moderators, librarians must straddle the line between libraries and the internet
23. The internet is a mess
24. The internet is subject to manipulation
25. Libraries’ collections employ a well-formulated system of citation
26. It can be hard to isolate concise information on the internet
27. Libraries can preserve the book experience
28. Libraries are stable while the web is transient
29. Libraries can be surprisingly helpful for news collections and archives
30. Not everyone has access to the internet
31. Not everyone can afford books
32. Libraries are a stopgap to anti-intellectualism
33. Old books are valuable
Conclusion
Society is not ready to abandon the library, and it probably won’t ever be. Libraries can adapt to social and technological changes, but they can’t be replaced. While libraries are distinct from the internet, librarians are the most suited professionals to guide scholars and citizens toward a better understanding of how to find valuable information online. Indeed, a lot of information is online. But a lot is still on paper. Instead of regarding libraries as obsolete, state and federal governments should increase funding for improved staffing and technology. Rather than lope blindly through the digital age, guided only by the corporate interests of web economics, society should foster a culture of guides and guideposts. Today, more than ever, libraries and librarians are extremely important for the preservation and improvement of our culture."

See also:
  • HOW TO KEEP A LIBRARY OF (PHYSICAL) BOOKS, Meditations on strategy and life, Ryan Holiday 
Extract:
Below are some tips on keeping and maintaining your own library. I hope they help:
-First, you have to read a lot.  
-Buy, buy buy. I took some heat for criticizing checking books out from the library a while back.   
-In other words, RESIST THE KINDLE.  
-Organize, organize, organize. 
-Become a resource for others.  
-Refer back to them!  
-The point of owning the books is to use them.  
-Books are no substitute for human contact, but it is still beneficial, I think, to be in the physical company of the greats.  
-Don’t be afraid to quit books that suck.  
-On that note, don’t collect for the sake of collecting.  
-Don’t loan.  
-It’s all about the IKEA shelves.  
-Collect the unusual.  
-Go through other people’s libraries. 
-Having a library keeps the information fresh in your head. continue reading
1. Not Everything is Available on the Internet
2. Digital Libraries are not the Internet
3. The Internet isn’t Free
4. The Internet Compliments Libraries, but Doesn’t Replace Them
5. School Libraries and Librarians Improve Student Test Scores
6. Libraries Aren’t Just Books
7. Mobile Devices are not the End of Books or Libraries
8. Library Attendance isn’t Falling It’s Just More Virtual
9. Physical Libraries are Adapting to Cultural Change
10. Eliminating Libraries would Cut Short an Important Process of Cultural Evolution

Labels: , , ,

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home