Two views: Are libraries still relevant?
Barry Cronin: Rediscovering the public library
A funny thing happened on the way to composing this column. Half-way through, everything changed. I never saw it coming.
This was originally intended to be a thought-provoking piece invoking such diverse sources as Voltaire’s “Age of Enlightenment” and the French Revolution, my own comparatively insignificant reflections regarding acceptable truth and the rise of ISIL in the West.But in the process of composing that intended column, I discovered instead something else, something better, a neglected, long forgotten, cherished memory from my youth suddenly resurrected. The public library, of all things!
By way of background, I was fortunate to have been raised by educated parents who encouraged all six of their children to read regularly. They themselves were prolific readers, so naturally our house was filled with many great books of every sort. Keep in mind this was the 1950s and ‘60s. There were neither computers nor online resources. Going to school back then necessitated weekly trips to the library.
For me, it was the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, one of the community treasures of Wakefield, Massachusetts, my beautiful, picture postcard hometown just north of Boston. What an unforgettable place, in my mind; the finest library on the planet. It was there I learned to appreciate books for both education and entertainment. To this very day, going to that wonderful library remains one of my fondest childhood memories of all. No doubt many of you can tell similar stories.
Fast forward 40 years to Poway and my recent, sudden “rediscovery.” I had intended to reference a specific history on the French Revolution by Christopher Hibbert (eminently readable historian, by the way), but rather than just buy it on my Kindle device, I decided instead to go check out the Poway Community Library. Although I have not actually been inside a public library in decades, I immediately recognized everything; the hushed, almost reverent, church-like ambiance of the place, dutiful employees rolling carts of books, silent people reading, browsing, seated at computers. The unmistakable rustle of the newspaper readers. The good ol’ Dewey Decimal System. What few patrons who were speaking did so quietly.
Now, my sincerest apologies if all this comes across as contrived, but I really have to admit it was kind of exciting. After all those many years away, I had finally rediscovered the public library! I even received my first library card in over 40 years!
I doubt anyone could argue the fact the Internet represents an exponential evolution in education that possesses a remarkably vast capacity to inform and instruct. It almost seems sometimes like the entire sum of all human knowledge can be found somewhere online. True, it has been more than a few rotations of the earth since my own school days, yet I would suspect the computer has since become an indispensable component of the modern day classroom. Rightfully so. But even as revolutionary as all this impressive technology has proven to be, nothing quite beats browsing slowly and quietly amidst stack upon stack of precisely catalogued books.
Do you remember as a kid that anticipation and incomparable thrill you felt upon stumbling across that perfect book? Until last week, I had nearly forgotten just how cool the public library actually can be. I for one fully intend to make the Poway Community Library a scheduled stop on my regular rounds about town. You should too.
Tom Yarnall: Internet replacing need for libraries
Librarians and motherhood are somewhat analogous. Both disciplines require dedication, sacrifice, hard work and a passion for seeing to it that children, and others, optimally develop their brain power. It’s hazardous to say a bad word about a librarian or a mother.
Having said that, I am not sure if the Poway Unified School District needs more librarians or if it would be better to invest that money in classrooms with fewer students. This is assuming there is not enough funds to do both, in accordance with what is really needed. Based on the current level of unproductive rhetoric spewed forth at the last school board meeting, they too don’t have a clue.
Some years ago I decided I needed to learn more about elementary investing. In addition to consulting with various financial analysts, whose objective was to have me invest in their products and pay their commissions, I spent many hours in the Poway and Rancho Bernardo libraries trying to educate myself on various financial alternatives. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, trusts, etc. As I think back I am amazed by how simple that task would be today and how much easier it will be as time goes by. It’s very easy to do that same thing today in the comfort of my home, in my pajamas or shorts, in significantly less time with more comprehensive information. No need to increase the carbon footprint by driving back and forth to the library.
Access to information has been transformed by the Internet. Libraries have tried to reinvent themselves as information centers and millions have been spent to acquire computers, but technology advances quickly and computers soon become old and relatively slow leading to a demand for more investment.
I just don’t know how local libraries, including schools, will ever be able to compete with the libraries on Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines. iPhones even allow you to do research while discussing something at a cocktail party. And just think, you don’t have to understand the antiquated Dewey Decimal System, which was developed in 1876 by Melvil Dewey. Library technology really moves fast, doesn’t it?
Before making a decision I think the PUSD board should clearly understand the objectives of the libraries and what is truly needed for them to meet their goals in terms that can be measured.
I know I have oversimplified the many contributions made by libraries and librarians and am probably driven by the fact I have not been to a library in years and could not find my card if my life depended on it. How about you?
