Are Libraries Going to Disappear?

I recently read an article in Forbes magazine which suggested that libraries are on the way out, becoming yet another victim to the increasingly technological society in which we live. This would definitely be a very sad turning for our society, not just for book enthusiasts, but for all those that libraries support. Libraries do so much more than simply lending out books, rather they are a community hub, providing vital support for many in society, which is why I think that there will always be a place for libraries in our world.

It is true that technology is becoming more and more present in our daily activities, not least because of the past year. Our society is, in many respects, dependent upon the function of technology to work on a day-to-day basis, but does this really extend to the act of reading? When the Kindle emerged, it quickly became extremely popular, and the number of people borrowing books from libraries did decrease; however, I recently spoke to a librarian who said that these numbers are now going back up. I must admit that I got very excited when I heard about Kindles because they are great for going on holiday due to the vast number of books you can bring with you without taking up lots of space in your suitcase, but there is something about holding a physical copy of a book that adds so much to the reading experience which is why I'm not a Kindle-convert. For me, being able to touch the book while I'm reading it and feeling the pages as I turn them engrosses me further into the story, and I think it is this tactile nature of books that is so important for us as readers. After all, humans are sensory creatures, so I think that being able to 'feel' the story in your hands when holding a book makes the story more memorable, and this feeling isn't the same if you're holding an electronic device.

I think this argument is also relevant for audiobooks, which I don't really enjoy listening to. When you read, it is an active experience; you have to turn the pages yourself and you have to concentrate to read the words on the page, whereas with audiobooks, the experience becomes a lot more passive, and therefore it is much easier to lose concentration. While they are useful if you have lots of things to do, so don't necessarily have time to read, if you are listening to them while doing something else, you aren't entirely focused on the contents of the book, so I think I would find it quite difficult to remember and appreciate the entire novel. Coming back to the notion of libraries, however, audiobooks are not hindering their existence, I don't think, because they can still lend out audiobooks, so, although they wouldn't be my preferred way of reading, they are a way for libraries to diversify and adapt with the changing times.

Moreover, the role that libraries play in helping their communities is indisputable. When you go to a library, there is more there than simply bookshelves and books, but there are often children's areas, cafes, and spaces that can be used to run important services such as first aid training or groups that help with addiction and mental health difficulties. Libraries can be a source of refuge for many, and a way for those in society who can't afford to buy books, to borrow them, either for themselves or for their children in order to help them learn to read which, we can all agree, is vital for their development. This then highlights the point of educational libraries in schools, colleges and universities. They are an indispensable part of education, providing millions of people with access to vital resources for their studies, and also housing some of the most important texts that have been written throughout all of history. I personally cannot see any way in which these libraries can be replaced because, even if the books were all put online, the libraries would still have to exist to house all of them, and therefore would still exist.

So, to conclude, I don't think that libraries will ever disappear. They will certainly evolve and diversify with the times, but I think that they play an irreplaceable role in our lives, and are necessary for so many sectors of society. Despite the sometimes scary improvements in technology, and its increased use in the world today, the art of writing and reading is creative and, for me, cannot be replaced by a robot or a screen.