Converting Libraries to E-Books

katiewhompus

Apparently this is going to be the big push in my county. Over the next 5 years they are hoping to reduce the library sizes in schools by half (for more classroom space, we are seriously overcrowded) by converting everything to E books and introducing more computers (we currently have 12 in the library). They are not ordering any reference books next year because they are all available through library software.

Part of the big push is to also provide E-readers to kids, and eliminate the traditional text book.

I'm really not sure how I feel about this, and I'm a big technology person. What are your thoughts?

Meg1979

I'm a librarian and I think that this the push for a lot of us.  I know we are getting rid of most of our print journals (I work for an academic library) and moving towards electronic resources.  Students really don't want to have to come in the library to access what we have. The only problem with electronic resources is the contract procedures are much more complicated (for example, how many licensed users can access a particular journal). 

 I have a nook, but I really prefer holding a book. 

raynes

I like the idea of e-books, but I think it would take some getting used to with textbooks as e-books.  I mean, I know you can "dog ear" pages and highlight things, but I guess if you learn that way, it'd be pretty cool.

It would help with the amount of weight a child has to carry around.

anna.oskar

i think it's a great idea that will increase accessibility, portability, and may even encourage some kids to read a bit more.

However, I'd be terribly sad in a world without the smell of an old book and the feel of an aged leather cover against my hands.  Books are not only literature but history in your hands.

Nebb

NOOOOO!!! I do not WANT e books. I want real life books made of paper and ink that fit nicely in my hand. I am resisting change.

katiewhompus

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_converting-libraries-e-books?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:c20859fa-703d-4ffa-a1c1-4ec9bcdc1486Post:3d596795-a92a-4564-a707-3b34249393d3">Re: Converting Libraries to E-Books</a>:
[QUOTE]I like the idea of e-books, but I think it would take some getting used to with textbooks as e-books.  I mean, I know you can "dog ear" pages and highlight things, but I guess if you learn that way, it'd be pretty cool. It would help with the amount of weight a child has to carry around.
Posted by raynes[/QUOTE]

Yep, and text books are freaking expensive and take up a lot of storage. I think someone figured out that county wide we would save over 30 million dollars by getting rid of text books?

There's also a push to stop teaching cursive and encourage all students to use netbooks for taking notes in class. I love hand writing things and it makes me sad to think in 10 years kids might not know how to actually write something on a piece of paper.

raynes

rhonwyn, e-reader's make use of e-ink.  It's not at all like a computer screen.  It's almost exactly like reading a paper book, as far as eye strain is concerned.

[Deleted User]

I think it could be good for the big huge books that are a PITA to carry around and hurt your back.

But for literature? I like the feel of the book in my hand. I'll never choose an e-reader over a "real" book.

raynes

I hardly ever use cursive.  Sometimes I doodle words for fun, but no cursive.  When we were signing our marriage certificate I had to write my H's name out for him so he could see how to make all the letters!  Cursive is dying for sure.

stephl3055

They are doing something similar in some of private the schools around here.  Instead of text books, students are given laptops (or netbooks I guess) that contain all of the texts they will need for the year.  The laptops have software that allows them to highlight and dog-ear the pages as well. 

I like the idea because it's less weight for the kids to carry.  I also hated it when  I got a really torn up text book in school that wasn't taken care of.  I do, however, see some kids just messing around on their computers if the teacher isn't necessarily watching what is on the screen. 

MarriedInAFever

I'm in favor. I actually JUST put a bunch of old textbooks on Amazon. I have a bunch of CDs that haven't been looked at in years. I finally threw away my remaining VHS tapes. I've been resistant to change and all it's done is clutter my house. Bring on the change.

Shaye526

I'm a technology nerd and I hate the thought of this. I love reading books and I like the feel of having an actual book in my hand and turning the pages. It just doesn't seem right. Maybe I'm just jealous because when I was in elementary school we had to learn the dewey decimal system during library class. The only thing this is useful for IMO, is for textbooks or if people need to travel and can't carry around a bunch of books.

katiewhompus

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_converting-libraries-e-books?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:c20859fa-703d-4ffa-a1c1-4ec9bcdc1486Post:877a239d-a117-4605-a97c-f642d04ae72a">Re: Converting Libraries to E-Books</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Converting Libraries to E-Books : That's good to know.  If they're going to do this, I really wish that universities would get in on it too.  I ended up printing something like 50+ articles from journal databases because I just couldn't stand to read on a computer screen.  But still, I like my books.  I don't think having an e-reader would be the same.  I get that it's convenient and all, but not for me. 
Posted by rhonwynv[/QUOTE]

That was me in college too. The prof's would put stuff on Blackboard to save us the cost of the book, but I would end up biting it in the cost of ink.

I wonder how this would work on a collegiate level though. You couldn't really sell the book back since there is no physical book, but if they drastically dropped the price of text books that could be bad too.

I'm starting to wonder how many jobs/incomes are reliant on the physical part of the book who are getting screwed here.

jasmineh7777

We just cut 80% of our academic journals and have added databases. For simple research articles, fine.
 
But I hate this idea for textbooks and anything I read for pleasure. For one, it depends entirely on the reliability of the computers and servers. Big fat fail. Also, I hate reading anything lengthy on the computer. It hurts my eyes. Plus, I can't hold an e-book, or highlight it, or bring it to the park.

And computers do not smell nearly as good as books.

katiewhompus

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_converting-libraries-e-books?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:c20859fa-703d-4ffa-a1c1-4ec9bcdc1486Post:cf81b185-2cca-47f5-bbfd-755a8b696080">Re: Converting Libraries to E-Books</a>:
[QUOTE]We just cut 80% of our academic journals and have added databases. For simple research articles, fine.   But I hate this idea for textbooks and anything I read for pleasure. For one, it depends entirely on the reliability of the computers and servers. Big fat fail. Also, I hate reading anything lengthy on the computer. It hurts my eyes. Plus, I can't hold an e-book, or highlight it, or bring it to the park. And computers do not smell nearly as good as books.
Posted by jasmineh7777[/QUOTE]

But computers neeeever fail Jas. Ever. Ever ever. Certainly not during state testing or when a student has to read 50 pages before class ;)

It does give me a little more job security though. Apparently our SI talked at length at a conference 6 years ago about how ahead of the curve we were with our use in technology, how our tech workers are so valued, etc etc. At the last meeting he was called out on for the proposed budget cuts of the entire tech support dept and for not adding anything in 5 years. Suddenly tech is back in the limelight.

Nattie24

I'm strange but I love the smell of books, not technology not so much, probably because that is all I deal with all day at work.

It sucked carrying text books, but it gave me extra exercise walking home from school everyday just getting ride of books for school would not be fun for future kids to get fit..

jasmineh7777

I fail as a techie's wife, because I really hate computers. (But, I love you Katie)

I fear one day all books will be on computers. And then when some disaster comes, all of that literature will be lost. So, I'm hoarding books in my library for the good of the world.

kpwedkk

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_converting-libraries-e-books?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:c20859fa-703d-4ffa-a1c1-4ec9bcdc1486Post:cd52c61f-c1b2-41d8-aacb-44c6d3e155b2">Re: Converting Libraries to E-Books</a>:
[QUOTE]NOOOOO!!! I do not WANT e books. I want real life books made of paper and ink that fit nicely in my hand. I am resisting change.
Posted by Nebb[/QUOTE]

This!  I agree, I like the feel of books in my hands, ripping through the pages of a eye-gluing book!


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gottahavashorti

I'd like it for textbooks, especially if there was a way to highlight or put notes in the margins, which we weren't allowed to do in high school anyhow.  I had a tendency to end up with a lot of large textbooks and walking a mile from the bus stop with an e-reader instead of a bunch of textbooks would have saved my back.  If it were just on a computer it would cause too much eyestrain.

I do think novels should stay in paper form, though.  There's something about reading a book that I doubt could be duplicated on a screen, when it doesn't weigh 5 lb.

katiewhompus

I'm with ya Jas. I love computers for most things, but not for reading and books. Everyone at my school is shocked when they walk into my little office area because I do everything handwritten on paper, then transfer it into the computer so it's easier for them. Like my lab schedule or troubleshoot list. I just have no faith in computers to not fvck up right when you need them.

That and I love getting the feel of a person when you walk into their house and see their bookcase. Soon we'll be hanging up our facebook accounts or something.

Meagan78

I am a serious reader and could live in a library or used bookstore.  But FI bought me a Kindle last year and I am hooked.  No eye strain and very much like a "real" book.  I think, for the reasons others mentioned - savings, environment, less strain on backs, etc. - that converting to electronic media is the way to go.  But I agree that it is sad.