People have flocked to bookstores and libraries for years to read their favorite books, magazines, and other printed materials. However, unlike other industries such as business and music, change in book correspondence has been slower, but it is now unavoidable as we move into the digital age. Physical books and libraries are about to experience a transformation that will change the world forever. The planet is currently undergoing constant changes and transformations as a result of technological advancements. As a result, many types of currently printed media have succumbed to the digital era over time. With the rate at which technology is taken over the world, it is hard for the people who love reading any other person to ignore the digitalization that is taking full force in the world of books and libraries. Sooner or later, books and libraries will lose their meaning, despite some people not flowing with that motion. Summarizing the viewpoints of the viewpoints that books and libraries are here to stay, this paper will give adequate reasons and evidence as to why libraries and books will become a thing of the past in the future.
Why Some People Believe in Books and Library Perpetuity
The opposing views on the fact that books and libraries will one day become a part of the history have it that, there is something special about the visceral act of holding a book in the hands and physically flipping a page. The feeling cannot be matched or replaced with the many pixels on the screen of tablets and other electronic gadgets. For them, print remains the only satisfying medium for reading books, unlike for those who prefer reading e-books as they only care about the content of the materials, have vision disabilities or otherwise ashamed of the materials they read (Battles, 2015). Libraries contain collectible printed books, implying that these materials possess scarcity quality; every book is unique on its own at some level. There is that a contentment feeling that comes with the aspect of owning property, and that is the similar case with having a printed book. Furthermore, the opposers continue to argue that there is no way the world would exist without the libraries and bookstores as they are not economical but political funding decision (Bodnick, 2012). Moreover, as they continue to argue, borrowing a book from the library is incomparable with buying from online sources. Not forgetting about the actual visitation of the library, the atmosphere at these quiet places allows for far much deeper connection with the content in the printed books, creating a conducive environment for reading less destructions that otherwise would be observed from the popups when reading an e-book. Furthermore, libraries offer more than lending books, but also music and e-books for those who cannot afford them, a reason as to why they forever will remain among us.
Acknowledging The Valid Parts of the Opposition
Admittedly, there are a few points from the opposers that make sense. First of all, a lot of money is set aside by the government to fund and run the libraries, a reason as to why these facilities are to stick around for quite some time. However, the main idea is their efficiency in the contemporary society, but not the mere fact that they should just exist to be seen. Were they to be funded by an individual, they would have gotten extinct way before people could notice it. It is a non-deniable fact that libraries offer a conducive and quiet environment from where to read and reconnect with one’s favorite literature material (Bodnick, 2012). Reading is good with minimal destructions as one can understand the content and what the writer initially intended for their target population. However, not the quiet environment works for everyone; some prefer slightly noisy place as too much silence might even make the ready too comfortable to the extent of slumbering. The uniqueness aspect of having to read a limited edition is also a valid claim, although no book is of its kind or just a single copy; more copies are out somewhere although it may not be in the same particular library where the reader is. Although there are several reasons put forwards as to why print books and libraries are here to stay, the counter points and views outweigh these reasons, making it clear that these two will one day disappear, just like many other things that would not keep up with the technology.
Counter Argument
Despite having some few valid points as to why books and libraries may stick around little longer, I support unimpeded fact that physical or rather print books and libraries will disappear in the future. First and foremost, there is no life without trees. Looking back at the vast volumes of books in the libraries in the entire world, they translate to millions of trees that have been cut down over the centuries just to manufacture books. The physical books stuck in library shelves are somehow to blame for the deteriorating environmental impacts, hence finding an alternative to paper would be the best idea ever. On the road to library and books disappearance is the E-Reader; a little device, but yet with high impact, and presents infinite advantages. The device holds hundreds of titles, and unlike the library where one has to stick there the whole time during the reading, the device allows reading anywhere at any time, not forgetting that it is highly portable unlike dragging a book along (Nuwer, 2016). For the E-Readers and tablet owners, getting a book has never been easier as it is just a click away. Purchasing a book from a tablet or an iPad is way better than having to go to the library, queuing to borrow a book, crossing fingers in the hope that the needed book is in stock as well as fueling and spending the time to return the book (Takacs, Swart & Bus, 2014).
Conclusion
As a result of the compelling advantages of replacing physical libraries and books with virtual one, it is of good importance that those still stuck on the old methods of message delivery embrace the new technology in reading and communication. Technology is moving fast, and so should we. Therefore, I propose that the creative writer and authors of our age turn to the better option of message delivery by offering their materials to their audience through virtual meaning. Further, millions of people visit the internet every second, a change which the authors can utilize to market their content and ensure that they remain afloat in the book writing world.
References
Battles, M. (2015). Library: An unquiet history.
Bodnick, M. (2012). Forbes Welcome. Forbes.com. Retrieved 18 July 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2012/10/02/will-public-libraries-become-extinct/#4a9cd4a7693c
Nuwer, R. (2016). Are paper books disappearing? Bbc.com. Retrieved 18 July 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160124-are-paper-books-really-disappearing
Takacs, Z. K., Swart, E. K., & Bus, A. G. (2014). Can the computers replace the adult for storybook reading? A meta-analysis on the effects of multimedia stories as compared to sharing print stories with an adult. Frontiers in psychology, 5.
