Open libraries
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
December 29, 2010 3:46am CST
Today I read an article about libraries in my country. They are going to introduce a new kind of libraries in my local area. It is called open libraries, and it is a library that is never closed. When the librarians have left the doors will be locked, but it is still possible to enter the library if you insert your library card in the door. Inside the library we can find the books that we are interested in and check them out ourselves. In order to protect the library against theft or vandalism there will be a computer that keeps the name of every person who enters via the library card, videocameras and alarms (the alarms will start if you try to remove books from the library without checking them out)
What do think about that kind of libraries? Does it exist in your country?
11 responses
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
30 Dec 10
I'm guessing there will be some sort of security personel there... I would not go to the library at night like that if there wasn't the presence of some security or authority. That sounds way too dangerous for our town!
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Dec 10
There isn't a lot of crime in the area where I live, but our safety is still one of the things that we have to think about if we want to use the library late at night. Many people are worried about that and they don't feel comfortable using the library at night in case something bad will happen. There will be video cameras in the library, but no other kinds of security.
1 person likes this
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
31 Dec 10
I don't think I would be comfortable with that at all.. there are no cameras in dark or hidden areas or bathrooms.. can't see it happening here!
1 person likes this
@goodhunter (334)
•
29 Dec 10
This is a welcome development in learning. Libraries are usually closed at 6 in the evening and this limits a person from doing research work.Even with the of data coming from the internet it is more convenient to study in the library considering the silence which is observed. More power and I pray that in the future all libraries would be patterned after this set up.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Dec 10
Yes, this is a new delelopment. I was pretty surpriced when I read about it in the news papers, because I am used to libraries that close around 6 or 7 in the evening. Of course it it possible to go the library, borrow some books and study in your home, but some people prefer to study at the library as it is quiet place and you have access to the books that you aren't allowed to borrow. With this development the students will get more freedom and they will be able to use the library in the evening as well. There are some problems about this kind of library like the risk of crime, but I also think that there are many advantages about it.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
29 Dec 10
No, not yet, but to think of it, it is purely awesome concept. I would like a library like that to exist in the United States. Why shouldn't we invest some money on our community to have such library? But it might cost a lot of money though, when come to think about the equipment cost, and all that high technology stuff. Don't you think? Is that a national library you were talking about?
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Dec 10
No, it is a relatively small local library. I think they want to test the idea before they do the same thing in the big libraries. If it is a succcess they might turn into the big libraries into open libraries as well. I like the concept a lot, and I think that it would be nice to be able to use the library whenever I choose, but you are right about the equipment, it will be expensive to change the libraries and add alarms, videocameras, computers etc.
@parveen86 (101)
•
29 Dec 10
Ithink it's a very silly system. Nowadays you can commit identity fraud so it won't be very hard to get a silly library card. Or what if somebody steals your wallet that has your library card inside it. You'll ring your banks to cancel your credit cards but will you really remember about your library card though? What if somebody used your library card and stole a bunch of books to sell on who's going to get blamed? You.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 Dec 10
When I read the article I was thinking about some the same things. I like the idea of open libraries and I would like to use that kind of library, but I think that it would be possible to abuse the system. I hope that you will need a kind of password to enter the library and not just the library card, otherwise it would be too easy to steal another person's card and enter the library in their name. If there is a password you can still abuse the system or steal the password, but I think it better than a system where you only need a card to enter.
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
29 Dec 10
Wow, that is so cool. And convenient, too. I love libraries because they give a certain peaceful feeling while reading. And, I love reading (and smelling) old books, but, since I've started working, I can't go to the library anymore because my work time is the time the library is open. I think it will be a remote possibility in my country, because I feel it would require a quite big amount of funding.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 Dec 10
I also love libraries, and I often visit the libraries in my area. As I work at night I am able to visit the library during the day, so I don't have the same problem as you, but must be annoying to be unable to visit the library when it is open. I think that those open libraries will give us more freedom and flexibility. For instanse if we are studying and need a certain book, we can simply go to the library and pick up the book ourselves even though the librarians have left.
@ricextreme (964)
• Ecuador
29 Dec 10
I would really love that kind of libraries here in my city.
The problem is that here where I live the crime is too high, and there's not enough technology to control it. So, a library as the ones you say, would be an easy target for crime.
Also, libraries here are kind of boring, because they don¡t update the books or bring new books. Some libraries haven't changed their books in years!
But I hope, someday there is less crime, so we can have a library as the ones you mentioned. It would be exciting, reading at the hour of the day you want!
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
31 Dec 10
I am lucky, because at my local library they buy new books pretty often. They also have plenty of older books which they keep in the basement. We are able to borrow those books as well. Yes, the risk of crime is one of the things that they have to consider before they create that kind of open library. They are going to start with one of the small libraries, and I think that they want to test the idea at first and see how it turns out. If there are a lot of problems, they probably aren't going to continue this kind of libraries, but I guess we will have to wait and see.
@Downwindz (2537)
• Netherlands
29 Dec 10
Hello there Porcospino
Im currious when they add them here, surely it will be weird that there will be no librarians outside normal open hours, but I believe it could be a benefit not having to depend on when it is open.
1 person likes this
@neelamrajeev (26)
• India
29 Dec 10
libraries are very important for us,in fact books are the key player who plays a vital role in the development of a person,and so that a country.it is very good step,and the library you are talking is a unique one.We should welcome such ideas and try to make more such libraries.I would also love to see the pictures of such library,so please post the picture here if possible.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
29 Dec 10
I didn't see the pictures of it yet, and I think that it will take a while before they have made all the changes. I have never heard about that kind of libraries before and I was surpriced when I read about it, but I think that it will make it much easier to use the library when it is always open. Today we have to plan our visit to the library according to the opening hours and some people find it hard to use the library, because they are busy with other things during the day.
@mandywilks (191)
•
29 Dec 10
I have never heard of such libraries but they cound like a really good idea, especially for people who work and can't get to the library easily.
1 person likes this
