I hadn’t really thought about how ebooks would impact libraries. Whenever I want a book for my kindle I typically just go online, buy it, and within minutes I am reading. Whenever I want to borrow a book I still go to the library and checkout a book to have in my hands. The idea of borrowing books by using my kindle is great! I wouldn’t have to go back to the library to make a return and I could have the book when I wanted it. It seems as if the process is more of a pain than it is worth. From the articles it seems like lending ebooks should not even be an option. How do you think the issues will be fixed and do you think libraries might pull the option to lend ebooks?
http://www.npr.org/2012/05/29/153900929/libraries-grapple-with-the-downside-of-e-books
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/librarian-patience-has-run-out-on-e-book-lending-issues-library-association-says/
The concept of lending and borrowing seems to need a tangible object. It is easy to account for which books are available and unavailable when they are stored at a central location, such as a library. Is it possible to “rent” books so that the e-book system begin to look like the Netflix of books?
I have a kindle and I know that prime members have access to a very small lending library. How would a digital library system impact society? With the advent of netflix we lost the local video stores. What would this mean for book stores?
I would also be interested to see what would happen if we lose bookstores? I wonder would people actually miss bookstores and libraries? Would people understand that we would be losing such a huge part of our history by getting rid of hard copies?
I for one would mourn the loss of bookstores and libraries. I know I hated when Borders went out, and if that were to happen to others, I feel like an important piece of humanity would be lost. Even looking at the books from hundreds of years ago, the book has been a vital piece, and to phase that out would most likely signify a drastic change.
A library is known to us as a building filled with books, to which we can study, read, and gain information without a computer and outside of our rooms. If this concept of a library would be lost for an expanse of fragile data, how much would everything change?
I also agree that the down fall of the library is a terrible thing. There is something about holding the physical book that you cant really explain. This feeling is ten fold when holding the printings we made in thursdays class. I really hope we attempt to save libraries and the printed word, the world won’t be the same without them.