Libraries in the Digital Age

We are living in the digital age. Computers surround us everywhere we go. We can research information at the drop of a hat, all through our mobile phones. Teens in high school are part of the PC generation, they’ve grown up with PCs and mobile phones available everywhere they go. We’ve seen technology grow from large computers taking up huge amounts of space, to now being able to talk through your watch. The digital age has changed who we are, how we communicate, how we research, and how we live. While the digital age is certainly  looked at as a positive thing, it does have its draw backs. It has changed how we communicate with each other and how we live our daily lives. Now, more than ever, people are stuck to their phones like glue. Because of the resources found with one click of a mouse, we are no longer thinking critically, researching topics, or reading books. The digital age has changed how we research.

With the changes that the digital age has brought, libraries have changed too. They have had to adapt to these changes to make a place that fits in with this new age. One would think with the amount of resources we can get through the internet that the the library would disappear. However, that is not the case. Libraries are needed now, more than ever, in this digital age. That doesn’t mean that libraries are given all the resources they need to thrive. In an article written by Christopher Harris, he discusses the issue that libraries face in the digital age. His question is really simple, “can libraries thrive in the digital age?” While the answer to this may be differ depending on who you ask, Harris suggests libraries can thrive in the digital age, if we all work together. One main point of Harris’ article is that “digital is the future of information because it is faster, easier, more connected, and more flexible.” Since we see this shift in information, why not try and work with it, try and make the best of it? I believe that libraries are trying to do just this. They see the library has a way to gain information, a way for those who don’t have access to the internet, or books, to look for the information they need. Libraries are trying their best to provide resources to all who need it. A few months ago I watched a short video on YouTube that discussed the issue of libraries in the digital age. The video interviewed members of the society you gave their opinions on the future of libraries. While I enjoyed the video, I really liked what was mentioned in the description for the video. It reads, “technology has enhanced libraries. We [libraries] still provide access to what's called the hidden internet. When you do a Google search you see the things that have a lot of links to them. But when you come to a library you have access to things in addition to the internet. You have access to things that never make it to Google.”

So, how can libraries thrive during the digital age? I think one of the most important points for thriving in the digital age is to work with it, not go against it. If libraries are resistant to the changes that are brought to them, they won’t thrive. Like with anything else, we are constantly changing and adapting. We must learn to accept these changes. Like most people, change for me can be hard, but I’m willing to accept it because I know that it will make me better. I think that libraries need to redefine their missions, bring in new technology, and provide new resources. They will be able to reach a larger audience, with new technology additions, than ever before.

One of the reasons why I want to work in a library is that I love the feeling you get right after you’ve finished a book. You’ve been in a different world for weeks, or months, lost in a place of make-believe and imagination. You don’t have to worry about what’s happening in your own life, lost in the hopes and sorrows of others. A good book leaves you sort of with a book hangover, not able to move on to the next book because you’re lost in the world of the one before. I want everyone to feel that same way. I believe that libraries help us to feel this way. They provide endless book hangovers! The library must adjust to fit into this new digital age, to give this feeling to all of us who are addicted to their phones. Hopefully, for a few minutes each day we can put down our phones and read.

Works Cited

Harris, Christopher. "Fact Or Fiction? Libraries Can Thrive In The Digital Age." Phi Delta Kappan   96.3 (2014): 20-25. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Apr. 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXje8Xcpyfo