http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/01/14/today-in-bummer-headlines Comments On: Today in Bummer Headlines by Paul Constant en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Fri, 24 May 2013 16:00:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss In fact it's somewhat amazing that someplace in Texas using is tax-payer dollars to provide books for all the lazy 47%. Maybe it's because they feel confident that really poor people won't have e-readers anyway and therefore won't be rewarded for their slothful ways.
Anyway, yes it may seem early but libraries are going to have to evolve to survive and they shouldn't cling to their outdated ways until the last possible moment or it will already be too late. It's already starting to be too late as a lot of (powerful, affluent) people already scoff at their continued existence.
Posted by chi_type]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:35:01 -0800 The Stranger Google's already scanned millions of books. There are all kinds of copyright issues in the way, but the industry will eventually work past those. At some point, you'll pay Google (or whoever) a few bucks, and they'll pass some of that to the publisher.

Paul's point is that we're nowhere near this point yet, not that we won't eventually get there.
Posted by Matt the Engineer]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:44:11 -0800 The Stranger I imagine at some point in the future it will be a bit like videos:
Everyone will read the same (limited) digital content (like netflix). Hopefully there will be some equivalent of scarecrow video in the dusty basement of an abandoned church or something.
Posted by chinaski]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:32:38 -0800 The Stranger
Imagine if they spent the money on books instead. Looking for even the standard literature on almost any topic imaginable at SPL is an endless sequence of "nopes", and the ebook world is even worse. The books just aren't there.
Posted by Fnarf]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:23:56 -0800 The Stranger
And yeah, this is basically just a slightly redone version of a library. They've just dropped physical books... and I know Constant's gonna hate this, but those are rapidly becoming an expensive vestigial tail many localities can't afford to hold on to.
Posted by dak7e]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:01:14 -0800 The Stranger
Today's library is more of a learning, studying, job hunting, reading center. In some sense, the stacks of paper books take away from space!

Just because the books are online, it doesn't mean that students will not want to come for after school study breaks, or adults will not want to take kids to the play area.

One can imagine all kinds of Microsoft Surface type devices implanted in desks, walls and so one, so that reading is everywhere. Pervasive.


Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:53:31 -0800 The Stranger "maybe we should focus on providing spaces that help people access, share and discuss information/literature? Kind of like study hall but for willing adults (and I suppose eager children)"

You know, I think there is a name for what you are describing, it's on the tip of my tongue.
Posted by Rotten666]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:31:16 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Matt the Engineer]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:26:41 -0800 The Stranger
Brick and mortar libraries are for interacting with the materials. You know, touching and shit like that. And what kind of programming are they going to offer in their sterile, no book library? Are kids going to bring their e-readers for story time?

Will it be a library or just a glorified computer lab with a librarian to answer questions and a tech to fix glitches?

Posted by Rotten666]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:25:05 -0800 The Stranger
If you can get your head out of your ass regarding what a library "should" be, then you'll realize this isn't a bad idea. Instead of simply offering oodles of books, the vast majority of which will likely never be touched, maybe we should focus on providing spaces that help people access, share and discuss information/literature? Kind of like study hall but for willing adults (and I suppose eager children).

Why have a building? Well, maybe because it's worth having a place like that that doesn't require you to buy a latte every hour.
Posted by dak7e]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:21:06 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Will in Seattle]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:16:59 -0800 The Stranger Posted by ryjan]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:12:32 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Matt the Engineer]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:02:17 -0800 The Stranger Posted by LEE.]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:01:00 -0800 The Stranger Posted by MacCrocodile]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:56:54 -0800 The Stranger Posted by rob!]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:51:02 -0800 The Stranger
Right?

(caveat - kudos on this, Bexar, represent!)
Posted by Will in Seattle]]> Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:47:10 -0800 The Stranger