PUBLIC LIBRARIES and THE INTERNET;
A Partnership
In 1956, it was predicted that television would eliminate libraries, and now it is predicted the World Wide Web will replace them. Recently one of my students at the private school where I am the Librarian asked, “Why do I have to read books when I can find anything I want on the Internet?” Here are some answers:
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT YOU
In 2005 the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a high school student collected all his research for a paper on the holocaust from a neo-Nazi site. It takes some knowledge and common sense to discriminate between sources of information. This is a real problem, one that public librarians are especially trained to help with.
LIKE THE NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK
The Internet is chaotic and unorganized. There is no way for even the best metasearch engines to find every reference to a word or phrase on the World Wide Web. And how do you know which is the best source? What spam or other dangers are attached to your search? More important, a very large percentage of the information these sites do find is unverifiable, out of date, or no longer exists.
IT'S HARDER TO GET A BAD BOOK PUBLISHED THAN TO SELF-PUBLISH ON THE WEB
Quality control is not part of the language of the Internet. Of course the Internet contains accurate and useful sites, but there are many more sites that are biased, inaccurate, misleading, or simply untrue. Unless you're an expert on the subject, the only way to be certain information is reliable is to compare across referenced sources, which is what books and librarians are very good at.
YOU CAN’T CURL UP WITH A GOOD COMPUTER
There are no substitutes for a book. And unlike computers and the Internet, they don’t require a huge infrastructure and energy source, are easy on the eyes, and most are very portable.
NINETY PERCENT OF THE WORLD IS WITHOUT COMPUTERS
Free access to information is a fundamental human right. That access which we take for granted is available to 90% of the world almost exclusively through Internet access in public libraries, if at all. According to surveys conducted by the International Telecommunications Union and Geohive, respected groups that compile international statistics, less than 10% of people in the world have computers and the United States accounts for the most computers per capita.
ISN'T EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET?
Not everything is on the internet, nor can it ever be. Four billion web pages seem like a lot, but only represent about 8% of newspapers, journals and magazines, and a much smaller fraction of books. Real, verifiable information can cost thousands of dollars. Google has stated that they will make available all the books printed since 1950 by the year 2007, but they are already facing court cases for copyright infringement. What about books published before 1950? Only public libraries come close to keeping up with the 10,000 plus books that are published daily in our country, and house the billions more books that are oldies but goodies or out of print.
BROWSING vs SURFING
Both libraries and the internet are great places to wonder around in. But how many times have you found a good book because it called to you from the shelf, or was next to other books of the same subject? Many of our libraries offer a wide variety of additional services including literacy and ESL programs staffed by volunteers, programs for children and teenagers, cultural events, a cadre of skilled and informed Librarians, as well as books, videos, DVDs, books on tape, music CDs, magazines and journals, and technical how-to books. And everything is free!
TRULY AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS
If you have ever lived in a country without public libraries, you quickly appreciate what treasures they are. Benjamin Franklin created the first public library in this country almost 300 years ago. In the 1800s Andrew Carnegie had financed over 2,500 public libraries in this country and in other countries around the world. Public libraries may be the best America has to offer. Truly democratic institutions, they do not discriminate but are open and free to all, and carefully guard individual right to privacy. The mission and goals of the American Library Association are in close harmony with the highest ideals of our country as stated in our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
ONLINE ACCESS FOR ALL
The Internet provides easy access to local public library systems through online databases where you can browse for and request materials and receive an e-mail when your request is ready to pick up.
THE FUTURE OF OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The question is not the Internet or libraries, but the Internet and libraries. Ninety five percent of public libraries provide free Internet access. And our libraries obtain the newest books and materials just weeks after they are published. Because they have kept up with the times, library use in this country has markedly increased in the last decade. Public libraries -- with free Internet access -- are definitely here to stay.
THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN
It is especially important to introduce children to public libraries. Studies from around the world show that public library use is a positive factor in the attainment of high reading and comprehension levels. The passive input children receive from television and movies doesn't encourage critical thought, build character, or guide children to practice independence, though some interactive Internet sites can. Most public libraries have a welcoming environment and activities to help children appreciate reading and libraries. And what better way to model and teach your children responsibility than by borrowing books and returning them on time?
SO ...
Visit and support your local public libraries; for yourself and for future generations. They are and will remain our greatest national treasures.
Thea Montandon
April, 2006
with thanks to Mark Y. Herring for the article that inspired this one:
