For someone who has never been a fan of libraries—though I used their facilities a little during my school days—I can see that libraries are fading away rapidly or have already faded in many places. The concern and resources that used to be channeled into them, whether for schools or city libraries as government projects, should be redirected or modified to fit a new era because hardcopy books are gradually becoming obsolete.
No doubt, I know people who cannot imagine reading eBooks and always prefer hardcopy books, which justifies the continued existence of libraries. However, the truth is that while such people still exist, their numbers are dwindling significantly, overshadowed by the growing preference for digital books. The last set of hardcopy books I read was from a man's private library, where he allowed me to pick any book I wanted. I was amazed by the sheer number of books he had, and I suggested downloading them instead of spending so much on physical copies. He simply replied that he preferred having them at home in hardcopy format. I did not blame him—he is not the tech-savvy type.
The Relevance of Libraries Today
Libraries have traditionally been places where people could easily find research materials for projects and access books from past centuries. However, nowadays, almost everything is online. Yes, absolutely everything. Even old books are being digitized to ensure they remain accessible. In fact, even when people consider using physical libraries, they first search online before deciding if they need a hardcopy version.
Back when I was working on my school project, most of my research was done online. It was only when I needed to include citations from physical sources—since lecturers often insist on referencing books—that I went to the library to pick the common textbooks for citation purposes.
Beyond academics, city libraries mainly serve as places for leisure reading and light research. But honestly, I wonder if people still go to these libraries to sit and read books. I doubt it!
For someone like me who dislikes unnecessary stress, I can simply navigate the internet and find whatever I need to read without having to spend money on transportation just to visit a library. There is a public library in the city where I live, but it is no longer functioning. Why? Perhaps because people stopped visiting, or maybe the management decided to take a break. Lol.
A Better Alternative
Instead of traditional libraries, why not transform them into modern research centers equipped with computers and free internet, where people can conduct online research rather than relying on physical books? Of course, by “research centers,” I do not mean places where people go to play games, download movies, or use computers for entertainment. No. The systems should be modified strictly for educational searches, and books should be freely accessible in digital format.
If something like this cannot be implemented, then library funds should be redirected to other sectors. Period!
Thanks for reading.
Your last paragraph got me. Transforming traditional library into a well equipped research center is a good idea.
Yes oooh!
If it can't be done by the government, they should channel the funds into something else or let them share the money. Lol
Thanks for stopping by
Transforming it would be the best option.
Yeah.
A good option 💯💯💯
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