News: Bookless Library

[samatethecookie]

A libarary without the books.

“When I look at books, I see an outdated technology, like scrolls before books,’’ said James Tracy, headmaster of Cushing and chief promoter of the bookless campus. “This isn’t ‘Fahrenheit 451’ [the 1953 Ray Bradbury novel in which books are banned]. We’re not discouraging students from reading. We see this as a natural way to shape emerging trends and optimize technology.’’

Instead of a library, the academy is spending nearly $500,000 to create a “learning center,’’ though that is only one of the names in contention for the new space. In place of the stacks, they are spending $42,000 on three large flat-screen TVs that will project data from the Internet and $20,000 on special laptop-friendly study carrels. Where the reference desk was, they are building a $50,000 coffee shop that will include a $12,000 cappuccino machine.

And to replace those old pulpy devices that have transmitted information since Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1400s, they have spent $10,000 to buy 18 electronic readers made by Amazon.com and Sony. Administrators plan to distribute the readers, which they’re stocking with digital material, to students looking to spend more time with literature.

Those who don’t have access to the electronic readers will be expected to do their research and peruse many assigned texts on their computers.

Speaking as an aspiring English major, this is really disturbing and depressing. Is it just me? I do understand the positives in this, but I really don't like the idea of electronics replacing books, or books being referred to as an "outdated technology". Books aren't electronics you can just replace on a whim.

Technology is unreliable, as well. While electronics are resourceful, they don't last forever. They break. Books don't exactly last forever, but they're certainly going to outlast laptops and electronic readers. What happens when the electronic readers and computers break, and these kids are unable to go to the library and look at actual text in a book? :\

Um. Yeah. I'm sad, but I'm hopeful that this idea won't spread. (If it does, then I'll panic and start buying EVERY DAMNN BOOK I can find and hoard them in my house somewhere.)

Comments

[cheriestar.livejournal.com]

Bah! Give me a book any day. I personally find reading from books more comfortable on the eyes. Plus you can bring them anywhere without worrying about breaking/losing them. And if one of those things happen, it's not that big of a deal normally.

This guy doesn't know what he's doing.

[samatethecookie.livejournal.com]

I love computers just as much as anyone, but if I had to chose between a computer and a book to read something, I'm picking the book, for the same reasons you mention. I hadn't thought about books being easier to carry around; they're much easier to replace, as well.

I'm sure he has his reasons for it, but ... agreed, this is such a weak decision. We shouldn't depend on technology that much. Plus, schools have a hard enough time maintaining computer labs. How is this going to be any easier in the long run?

[oyasumi-nasai.livejournal.com]

Nooo. That also disturbs and depresses me. I hate reading books and comics on the internet. I want the printed version. I don't think it's very good for your eyes either. And books are awesome. This place is stupid and wasting way too much money for no reason.

[samatethecookie.livejournal.com]

It's not good for the eyes, no. It really isn't good to stare at a bright screen for hours just so you can catch up on reading - when it's better to look at a book by a lamp. And I doubt teenagers are going to even read anything on these computers other than their blogs and e-mails. I just don't think this idea is going to work.

The money that's being spent on this "learning center" is what scares me. $12,000 cappuccino machine?! What for? Private school or not, it's still too much for one school. :\

[evilwildlex.livejournal.com]

Give me a book over reading an e-book ANY DAY.

I'm not even a huge book fiend, but when I'm doing my research, I always print out academic journals once I've assessed that there's something related to my topic in there. I don't *like* trying to read them all via my computer.

[samatethecookie.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I love books. I did read e-books here and there, but only because I didn't want to buy the books, and this was before I finally got a new library card. Reading everything on the computer just ... doesn't give you the same experience as reading from a book, whether it's for fun or research.

I don't know how they came up with this idea and why, but I doubt it's going to work. It's going to be a pain in the ass to upkeep.