Reading Assignment #1

Title: The Future of Libraries: Beginning the Great Transformation
Author: Thomas Frey (Executive Director of the DaVinci Institute)
Link: http://www.davinciinstitute.com/page.php?ID=120

It appears that technology has always been in this constant state of advancement. However, it also appears that libraries are being phased out with this new technology. Unless libraries can find a way to advance along with technology and the ever-changing demands of the public, technology will eventually wipe out libraries all together.
Libraries have always provided a place for the public to explore and find information on any subject they could imagine. From the earliest libraries and books chained to desks, to libraries with wireless hotspots that allow us to access the internet on the go to view information and even books online. While these newer faces of libraries may seem to show a decline in the need for public libraries, there will always be people who do not have access to these new technologies or who prefer to learn about and use the library in person.
The addition of new features to public libraries is thought of as a way to fix the problem that many think exists. Personally, I think the public will always have a need for libraries in some form or another. There is a wealth of educational journals and databases available in these libraries. The librarians can help you find exactly what you are looking for in a short amount of time and provide information to you on the subject you are learning about while doing all this online could take a great amount of time unless you are very skilled at using the internet. You could spend hour searching databases and not find what you need.
You also face fewer distractions when using the library instead of using the internet. When you are in the library, you are in a somewhat controlled environment where it is usually quiet and organized. When you use the internet, you could be anywhere from a noisy crowded space to your own home. While these distractions could take you away from your work, the temptations of the internet itself pose a large problem that using the library would not. Many people use the internet to stay connected with others with sites such as “facebook” and “myspace.” Knowing that these are just a click away can be distracting. If you do not have the opportunity to access such distractions, you are more likely to complete your work in less time. I know that when I am online, I get distracted with checking e-mails and chatting with my friends or checking out something interesting I see on the main page when the internet loads. Though libraries may not be convenient to some or seem to be the best source for quick information, they still play an important role in today’s society.