Should ebook used in our public library in the future?
By kingparker
@kingparker (9673)
United States
June 25, 2011 11:31pm CST
Well, I guess that we are not in a fully digital age yet. In library, we could still check those paperback, and large volume of books, which would allow us to borrow for 3 weeks mostly. If it is late, you have pay some fee for the late fee.
What if a library is fully digital, and you don't have to drive all the way to the library? I heard some people suggest that, since a lot of us possess this hand - held ebook - reader, or most recently, Ipad 2, we can download ebook, or get access library website easily. From the library site, you can download the ebook for around 3 weeks to finish them. After that 3 weeks, that ebook should be automatically deleted within your system. Would that be work, so you don't have to drive all the way to your community library and return the book
2 people like this
10 responses
@de_toya (2429)
• Indonesia
27 Jun 11
I myself prefer to read books than e-books. I feel more comfortable to read book for hours than read it from my PC. Reading e-book from PC make my eye irritating. If the book just available in electronic version only, I will print it first.
After all, your idea is good. However, both should available. E-books is easier to search than printed version even though library has supported by electronics system for searching the catalog. We have to search the book when we have find the title using electronic information system.
@keeegan_ess (512)
• United States
26 Jun 11
Well I think in the future this is a highly likely situation. But I still don't think it's in the near future. I don't think we're at that stage yet where everyone owns an iPad or a Kindle or whatever eBook devices there are. It really hasn't become important to people to own these things. And while we may have the latest cell phones and computers, we still don't have devices that can hold eBooks. I think books are still good to go for at least another 50 years.
@tiffnkeat (1673)
• Singapore
26 Jun 11
Hey, no need to wait for the future. It's already happening. There are digital libraries. In my country, you can also borrow. There is a way for the books to expire after the loan period. I have not tried it though.
@AnupamArt (101)
• India
26 Jun 11
Of course.
But, there is a question here.What about the piracy thing?
We have not found a way to stop ebook or any digital media piracy yet. Is not is a ethical question for Library as an Institution?
@camomile07 (1420)
• Germany
26 Jun 11
It's a great idea and, maybe, it will exist by this or a similar way in the future. But I can't imagine a complete digital library. In my opinion, in a library should exist both possibilities: ebooks and printed books. Standard books are culture, there are still many writers publishing printed books and, even as a museum and part of the culture, normal books as we know since ages will ever persist (I hope so). I also like ebooks, but it's not good for the eyes to read a full ebook of 500 or more pages on the screen. The eyes get more tired and the light for too long time is not very healthy.
@abatencila (970)
• Philippines
26 Jun 11
Yes. Many students are wishing for this. Besides, books are also expensive when the students have to buy this. Everything will also be easier for them. Also, some teachers are always requiring them to search answers from the internet always and print their answers. It is also expensive.
@wow2dong2 (204)
• Malaysia
26 Jun 11
I prefer book than ebook. I like the feeling when i am holding a book and reading it instead of reading it using the screen of the computer. But you got the point, it is really more convenience if library use this ebook system. I guess i should start suit myself with this system by now.
@AFI34974 (61)
• United States
26 Jun 11
It's a great idea, but I think it should be both ways. Good old paper books give me comfort when it's dreary outside or when I'm going through a hard time, they take me to a new place. Ebooks just aren't the same, for some reason. I enjoy feeling the pages and bookmarking them. It may be because I'm somewhat of a book hoarder, but I think it would be absolutely awful if all books became digital. We should have a choice.
