A Library With No Books? Hmm . . . . .
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How would you feel if you walked into your local public library and instead of hundreds of shelves laden with all kinds of exciting books, you encountered a modern interior that resembles an Apple store complete with aisles of computers and other electronic gadgets? That, is exactly the vision Nelson Wolff has for BiblioTech, a new kind of public library that is scheduled to open in San Antonio's Bexar County, in fall 2013.
The Texas judge says that while he loves physical books, he believes that it is time to bring the library system in the direction in which the world is rapidly heading - E-books!
So while the library will not have any physical books, it will have over 10,000 e-titles for patrons to browse through and even download onto their own e-readers. For those that do not yet have access to an iPad, Nook, Kindle or other e-reading device, there will be a total of 150 e-readers available to borrow, 50 of which, will be reserved for kids! In addition, the library will also feature 50 computer stations, 25 laptops and 25 tablets for people to enjoy, whilst there.
The number of books available will be added to annually, so that one day, the book selection at this hi-tech version can be as robust as the one found in a traditional library.
This is not the first time a complete public e-library has been considered. In 2002, Arizona's Tucson-Pima Public Library System was the first to open a small book-less branch - However, it was located in an area where most people did not have access to computers and after repeated requests from locals, the library succumbed and added physical books.
In 2011, the city of Newport Beach in California, tried to transform its existing library into a book-less one - But the public did not take it too well and the officials ultimately abandoned the idea. The one place it seems to be working really well is the University of Texas in Austin, where the students love having a library that contains only e-titles.
So are people ready for a book-less library? Only time will tell. But if it does work, the judge will be able to open similar libraries in many more locations in the county than he otherwise could - That's because thanks to smaller real-estate requirements, the cost of opening one is much lower than that for a normal library. What do you think of this idea? Would you be thrilled or upset if your local library decided to go the e-route? Be sure to let us know, by adding your comments below!
Resources: engadget.com,mysanantonio.com, gizmag.com
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759 Comments
- Stargirlover 12 yearsOnline reading gives me a headache and I don't like the idea. Though you can enlarge the font on e-readers. So there is a pro and con.
- Nameless personover 12 yearsSoon technology is going to take over the world?
oysterbrainover 12 yearsI like this because we don't need to use too much wood and we are like helping the environment. I don't like this because we are using electricity so we need to charge it and it will make a little pollution. I also don't like this because they are bad to our eyes.- Nonameover 12 yearssweet
rockmanover 12 yearsI think its good because in a book with pages,1 page can rip and you can't finish reading the hole book,but in a book with no pages a page can't rip,because it has no pages so you can finish the book.There is a very good thing and that is,you don't have to cut down trees to make this books,so you don't use paper.The bad thing is that if you run out of battery you can't read the hole book,or what if there is no more electricity you can't finish the hole book!!!!!!!Imagine you are reading a book,and suddenly the thing turns off or there is no more electricity!!!!!!I wold say "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" what would you say if that happens to you?- Cupcake lover over 12 yearsWell, I'm a bookworm an i love technology( hey I'm not saying I'm a geek, I hate homework too ) so I'm kinda so so. As long as 1/2 are physical and 1/2 aren't I'll be fine
jalkiover 12 yearsIm doing this for my fifth grade current event this week. What a great current event.I mean i don't like homework much (Depends on what its about) but i LOVE current events :D- Helenover 12 yearsBut it is good for current events. I'm so using it!
- Helenover 12 yearsI love traditional books! It would be cool to have an E-library, but I like regular books!
- CherLloydLovesUover 12 yearsoh, so cool. Lucky americans! ;3