Digitization of the Library: Are we ready for the ripple effect?
This week I heard Dr. Anthony Grafton share ideas, thoughts, and challenges about traditional learning/thinking/writing/researching spaces–the library. I must admit that I was anticipating the possible proposal of the demise of technology because of the changes that are occurring in how we use the library. Instead, Dr. Grafton spoke of the rich cultural heritage of the libraries, the texts which are now available because of digitization, and the knowledge/power relationship.
He then guided the audience to consider the future of the library: what will the library look like, how will it look structurally and how will the public use the library. I kept asking myself as he showed images of libraries (past and present) what did I want the library to become? Taken from a different perspective, what would I miss if there wasn’t a major library on campus? One of the ideas Dr. Grafton proposed was to consider harkening back to early library history and create smaller libraries within disciplines. Instead of a major depository of information, create smaller and more specialized areas.
What is it you would miss if you didn’t have a library? How do you envision the library of the future? Think beyond books, what is it that draws you to a library? If every book/article/newspaper were digitized, would you return to the library?
Certainly the library must be at the forefront of technological innovations.
Signing off for now with more questions than solutions.
Great questions, and thanks for the link to the cool library blog!
“One of the ideas Dr. Grafton proposed was to consider harkening back to early library history and create smaller libraries within disciplines. Instead of a major depository of information, create smaller and more specialized areas.”
These days when scholarship is becoming more and more interdisciplinary, how does his suggestion fit in?
Right now, the Kindle 2 can hold 1,500 books. When (like the new iPods) can hold a million books (and that day won’t be long), it’ll be a game-changer.
Actually, the Kindle 2 can hold a million books, sorta: when you exceed capacity, Amazon kindly stores the excess in a digital “attic” (I think that’s actually what they call it), and they move titles in and out of the device as per your instructions.
Not exactly what you mean, I know, but the mind still boggles. And of course some folks have actually bought over 1500 books for their Kindles already.
Now the only hitch in the get-along is that Amazon hasn’t yet made a million books available for sale on the Kindle.