Libraries in the Digital Age

People are constantly looking for information. And, in order to best serve them, libraries need to meet people where they are: online. As a result, many libraries are transitioning their collections towards digital materials. And while there is a lot of benefit to digital libraries, there are also a lot of negatives. No matter which form libraries take, however, “one thing remains constant—users still need help.”1

The Good

The beauty that digital libraries can bring to the world is undeniable. Digitizing holdings and becoming an online resource can advance scholarship across the globe. This video from Library For All is just one example of that process:

One side effect of a push towards digital holdings is that it can also free up library space for patrons. Just last week, an article in the LA Times published an article that discussed how “from coast to coast, UC Berkeley to Harvard University, libraries are removing rows of steel shelving, stashing the books they held in other campus locations and discarding duplicates to make way for open study spaces.”2 The removal of books may seem drastic, however, patrons often greet the space enthusiastically. This is important, not just because libraries must serve their patrons, but because libraries are uniquely positioned to offer free, safe, common space. Providing this space for patrons is an important service, and helps libraries become anchors in the community.

The Bad (& The Ugly)

Not everyone is in favor of digital libraries however. Recently, at UC Santa Cruz, the removal of thousands of books prompted uproar among faculty, and the Academic Senate stated that it “condemns the dramatic reduction of the print collection.”2 A similarly ugly situation also occurred at Stanford University recently. In 2015, former Library Director Jeff Scott oversaw the removal of over 40,000 books in the push for space and digitization.3 This process, as well as its lack of transparency, caused significant controversy, and Scott resigned shortly thereafter.

The critics of digital libraries have many valid points, because the push for digital materials is not without cost. Hosting, access, and copyright may all be issues for digital holdings. The ability for patrons to browse similar materials is less intuitive. And there are many who do not have access to digital technologies, or prefer to read in print. Thus, while digital collections are massively beneficial, it is imperative that traditional forms are not eliminated.

The Future

In discussing physical versus digital reference materials, Heather Terrell states that “the two can coexist peacefully and vitally, as long as librarians maintain focus on selecting the best material for their reference collections, no matter its format.”1 I believe that this attitude can be applied to the debate between physical and digital libraries as well. I see patrons using the physical library, and its resources, now more than ever. There are spaces for learning and engaging, but the demand for materials, in physical, ebook, and audiobook formats, is still high. Thus while digital libraries are changing physical libraries, I think both can coexist peacefully, as long as the patrons are kept in mind.

Works Cited

1. Terrell, Heather B. "Reference Is Dead, Long Live Reference: Electronic Collections in the Digital Age." Information Technology & Libraries, vol. 34, no. 4, Dec. 2015, pp. 55-62. EBSCOhost, doi:10.6017/ital.v34i4.9098.
2. Watanabe, Teresa. “Universities Redesign Libraries for the 21st Century: Fewer Books, More Space.” Los Angeles Times. 19 April 2017. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-college-libraries-20170419-story.html
3. Peet, Lisa. “Berkely PL Director Resigns Amid Controversy,” Library Journal. 3 September 2015. http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/09/managing-libraries/berkeley-pl-director-resigns-amid-controversy/#_