Comments on: If Two Formats Enter, Why Does One Format Have to Leave?

By: Stacey

Stacey — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:18:04 +0000

People are way too hung up on containers. What does it matter whether ideas are scrawled on cave walls, scrolls, printed books or digitalized readers? Containers become obsolete and die, but the spirit and dynamic evolution of knowledge and creation will continue. Isn’t that what really matters?

And if one wants to have a conversation that really matters, it would be refreshing to hear lots of librarians discussing ways to encourage members to have opportunities to create their own knowledge and knowledge networks. Libraries need to be about more than just providing a bunch of stuff for free. We need to offer opportunities, programming and motivation for members of all ages to connect and be innovative and creative with the resources.

Or we can fixate on containers until not only the book is dead, but we are, too.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:00:16 +0000

I know! For all the people who keep yelling that the book is dead, now I’m more interested in finding out what they mean. It does get people’s attention, though, you have to admit that!

By: LittleBig

LittleBig — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:52:46 +0000

Thank you for this. I am SO BEYOND TIRED of the ebook vs. print book debate. (Not that my library will ever have money for either.) I love them both, for different reasons. One does not replace the other. Can’t we all just get along??