Neil Gaiman, one of the greatest fiction authors, said:” Google can bring you back 100 000 answers, a library can bring you back the right one “.
As online learning becomes more common and more resources are converted to digital form, some people have suggested that public libraries should be shut down; instead, everyone should use e-readers. While others disagree and claim that libraries are fundamental and should not be closed.
Both the internet and the library are considered to be a big depository of information. A library can be defined as a collection or group of collections of books and other print or non-print materials organized and maintained for use. While the internet is defined as an electronic network providing access to millions of resources worldwide. Both of them seem to serve the same purpose but as the world moves to new inventions and directions, the question whether the internet/e-reading is going to replace libraries arises.
Generally, replacing libraries with tablets would be a serious mistake. First, digital books and resources are associated with less learning than print resources. A study done on tablet vs. book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, headaches and eyestrain, at much higher instances than reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence of more health issues as shoulders and back pain, and muscle strain. We should not add to these problems by giving people, especially young people, more reasons to look at screens.
Proponents of the idea that libraries should be shut down, state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won’t have to travel to a library to get a book, they can simply click on what they want and read it from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy physical copies of books, they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they need. However, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of benefits including providing jobs, keeping the community connected and so on…
While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a simple object.
Khaoula Jraif
Semester 3, Department of English Studies
Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida
