Fiction

Little Star

(17,055 posts)

39. Will e-readers eventually have a negative effect on public libraries?

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 09:21 AM

Dec 2012

Also, what effect they will have on poor people who depend on a public library for their reading material?

Then there’s this opinion from a librarian..

Public Libraries are Doomed

It’s rare that I make dire predictions, but I’m going to make one. In a decade or so, we can see if I’m right.

Public libraries are doomed.

Okay, that was maybe more dire than I really meant.

How about, public libraries as places to get books or videos or music are doomed?

There, less dire. My proof? The great thing about a dire prediction, as any seer can tell you, is that we don’t need any proof, but Amazon trying to create a “Netflix for books” is persuasive.

http://blog.libraryjournal.com/annoyedlibrarian/2011/09/14/public-libraries-are-doomed/

(Make sure to read the comments to that blog post)

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E-reading isn’t reading....... [View all] Little Star Nov 2012 OP

I much prefer reading on my kindle than reading a real book. Skinner Nov 2012 #1

In my life there is room for both.... Little Star Nov 2012 #2

Well, I've been reading books for over 60 years, so of course... TreasonousBastard Nov 2012 #3

This message was self-deleted by its author antiquie Nov 2012 #4

Reading has fuck all to do with your fingers. dmallind Nov 2012 #5

I strongly disagree mythology Dec 2012 #40

Tortured analogy at best dmallind Jan 2013 #44

I like both Lydia Leftcoast Nov 2012 #6

And then there's this: print vs. eBooks for kids.. Little Star Nov 2012 #7

I didn't read the whole piece jp11 Nov 2012 #8

One of the things I like a great deal about traditional books is that SheilaT Nov 2012 #9

I have to admit that I have not tried e-reading, Curmudgeoness Nov 2012 #10

Me neither & me too.... fadedrose Nov 2012 #12

Yes. One huge drawback to the ereaders is that SheilaT Nov 2012 #20

I had never thought of formatting changes, Curmudgeoness Nov 2012 #21

You should be thinking about it. SheilaT Nov 2012 #22

I'll give you long term power failure getting old in mke Nov 2012 #23

Thank you for that information. SheilaT Nov 2012 #24

DRM = Digital Rights Management getting old in mke Nov 2012 #25

You know, it might be amusing to get library books signed. SheilaT Nov 2012 #26

WOW! Yes! getting old in mke Nov 2012 #27

Of course you can. An e-book is just a computer file. dmallind Jan 2013 #45

I do about 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 getting old in mke Nov 2012 #11

Oh, I forgot about audio books.... Little Star Nov 2012 #13

I am far more comfortable reading my Kindle than a regular book. Lex Nov 2012 #14

Why would we have to choose? CaliforniaHiker Nov 2012 #15

Here's something else to consider. SheilaT Nov 2012 #16

However you were able to get to the digitized version of the Life magazines Lex Nov 2012 #28

Admittedly, I wasn't looking that hard. SheilaT Nov 2012 #29

Does e-reading serve any real purpose? Jim__ Nov 2012 #17

I love books - I love how they feel, making a crease in their spines, closeupready Nov 2012 #18

I love my NOOK Mz Pip Nov 2012 #19

I like the Kindle for stuff not available in print pscot Nov 2012 #30

I'm in my 40's, and I love my Nook DisgustipatedinCA Dec 2012 #31

Another problem with an ereader is going SheilaT Dec 2012 #32

Or quickly turning pages to see if a specific character will appear again.. fadedrose Dec 2012 #33

Smiley face here. SheilaT Dec 2012 #34

Thanks for the link to the MJ article. Loss of privacy should enter into the conversation. Little Star Dec 2012 #35

Interesting article getting old in mke Dec 2012 #36

The claim is made that our government is continually SheilaT Dec 2012 #37

David Brin on Transparency getting old in mke Dec 2012 #38

Will e-readers eventually have a negative effect on public libraries? Little Star Dec 2012 #39

I prefer reading a book Xyzse Dec 2012 #41

I don't have an e-reader, but whenever i am reading SheilaT Jan 2013 #42

I can understand that Xyzse Jan 2013 #43

After going through 4 surgeries on my left eye during 2012, you can believe how japple Jan 2013 #46

To Each Their Own. However...... Paladin Jan 2013 #47

Has anyone read a e-book with audio/video capability?... Little Star Jan 2013 #48

There have been children's books from B&N getting old in mke Jan 2013 #49

I discovered yesterday the Amazon Kindle app for smart phones. closeupready Jan 2013 #50

lol! I want to marry the internet because everyday I learn something new on these tubes. n/t Little Star Jan 2013 #51

I have a number of readers on my devices getting old in mke Jan 2013 #52

That's why I always have a book or two with me. SheilaT Jan 2013 #54

Well, my 8-tracks weren't computer files... getting old in mke Jan 2013 #55

There are some downsides to ereaders that are totally overlooked. SheilaT Jan 2013 #56

Nope, not a downside. getting old in mke Jan 2013 #57

I love my e-readers gollygee Jan 2013 #53

There's plenty of room for both. LWolf Jan 2013 #58