The Changing Library
A In the early 2000s, many commentators predicted that public libraries would soon disappear. The internet, they argued, made books and information so easy to find that nobody would need a building full of shelves. Yet in many towns and cities the opposite happened. Visits to a large number of libraries rose, and some new library buildings became among the most popular public places in their areas. The reason is that libraries changed what they offer.
B The first change was a shift from lending to helping. Many libraries now provide free computers and internet access for people who do not have them at home. Staff run classes in job skills, basic computing and foreign languages, and they hold story hours for young children. Students use the buildings as places to study when their homes are crowded or noisy. For these visitors the library is less a store of books than a service that the community can rely on.
C A second change is the way space is used. Traditional rows of shelves have been replaced in some buildings by movable furniture, so that a hall can hold a talk one evening and a group of students the next day. Silent reading rooms sit beside rooms where people can work together. Some libraries have cafes, and others have workshops where visitors can use sewing machines or 3D printers. A few libraries even lend objects, such as drills and ladders, so that residents can borrow a tool for a weekend instead of buying one.
D Not everyone welcomes these developments. Some critics believe that money for libraries would be better spent on schools. Others worry that libraries are becoming general community centres and are losing their focus on reading. Supporters reply that reading remains at the heart of the library. They point out that borrowing of electronic books through library applications has grown steadily, and that a visitor who comes for a computer class often leaves with a book.
E The future of libraries depends largely on money. Most are paid for by local governments, and when budgets are cut, opening hours are often the first thing to be reduced. Some libraries work with local businesses or rely on volunteers to keep services running. Those that have done best tend to have one thing in common: they ask the people who live nearby what they need, and they change their services in response.