As soon as civilized man began creating and recording information, he began to store it. Libraries were formed to manage the storage of information. From scrolls to books to computer files, libraries have organized and stored information. Many may say that digitalization of information will make libraries obsolete, but I strongly disagree. Libraries play a more important role in society than just a storage house. Libraries enable everyone in society to have access to information. Just in the early 1900s the citizentry did not have access to books, except through libraries. Citizens needed the library to help them expand their education and knowledge.
This has not changed, even if the needs and forms of information have. Many people cannot afford a computer, but they still need the functions the computer performs. Libraries are the one place citizens can go to obtain the digital information they need without paying a fee. Libraries ensure equality in society (Lester, 2007).
Lester, J. and Koehler, W. Jr. (2007). Fundamentals of information studies, second edition. Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., New York, New York.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
As a medievalist, the history of access to information and the importance of inventions such as the printing press and automating binding devices and the invention of wood pulp paper is just fascinating. Inventions make information storage evolve, but never past the need for some type of library, I agree.
Post a Comment