The digital revolution is defining how the young and old will read and learn in the 21st century. The library of the future is here, today, on the internet. 1 in 4 books sold in 2012 were digital books. eBooks” share is project to be 40-50 percent of book sales in 2016 when the library is built.? Does it make sense to spend $23 million to build this warehouse for paper books?
-????????? Libraries are struggling to pay publishers’ high prices for e-book subscriptions, whereas consumers typically pay much less to buy e-books.
-????????? Students are using their iPads to learn and do research on the internet. Shrewsbury schools are running an iPad pilot program in grades 5-7.
-????????? The digital revolution does not bode well for libraries, today.
-????????? Commuters can read the morning news on their iPad or iPhone.
-????????? eBooks have lots of built-in features, a dictionary and the ability to make notes in a text.
-????????? You can download thousands of movies from Netflix.
-????????? 46 percent of young children have read at least one animated digital book for kids.
-????????? In September 2013, a public library in San Antonio, Texas opened with no paper books; the collection is entirely electronic, paperless.
The digital revolution has taken hold and has essentially ended the need for libraries to increase their physical size.
They want you to spend $23 million to build an outdated, oversized library.? I urge you to vote “No.”
Brian Austin
Chairman
Committee for a Smaller Library