The digital library

I find that to be sad...today's kids will never know the enjoyment of looking through the stacks and finding a book.

We reached the point of no return a couple of years back, when more e-books than prined material were sold. The libraries are just trying their best to adapt to the changes.

So, why should people even bother to visit ibraries when they just as well may download e-books for free?

There is one valid argument: Many sites that advertise free e-books are sharing those copies illegally. They can be of poor quality, incompatible with some devices and may contain viruses. Just because it’s free, doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with a cost in the form of damaged files, false information or no files at all. Some of these sites ask for credit card information to confirm the person’s identity and then steal their information. In many cases, these sites seem legitimate and users unknowingly download illegally obtained copies, thus committing a crime by downloading.

With that in mind, even without the smell of newly printed paper, don't alter your library habits just because we have entered the digital era! Librarians are just as eager to help you and appreciate a good literary debate as before and without visitors, they will surely become a dying breed. If they disapppear, society will lose one of its important public service functions.