I’ll answer that question up front: No. More on that in a moment.
When people think of libraries, people obviously think of books. Lots of books. After all, the literal definition of a library is "a room where books are kept", "a depository built to contain books..", and so on.
Today when you enter any modernized library, more often than not the two largest services they provide are internet access and programs. These programs I speak of aren’t computer programs but rather activities for children, teens and adults. My local library is a good example as it is fully modernized with free wi-fi, many computer stations and many programs available.
If you think about it, your local library was probably the first place that had freely available internet access outside of your own home. Long before there was public wi-fi, libraries had computer stations. Most started with less than five stations and then expanded to many more to accommodate for demand. My local has somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 to 30 stations – and it’s rare that one isn’t in use.
Does anybody read books anymore? Yes. You will always find people physically reading a book or two in the library. And there are still plenty of instances where books are better than internet.
Two really good examples of where the library is required are for instructional and magazines/periodicals.
Full-color big-print instructional books that teach you how to build things are always better than printing out web pages from the internet. This is because the book has full laminate pages with crisp clean pro-grade print and color that’s far superior to what your printer can output. If you were to print out even something as small as a 40-page book like that, it would cost you far more compared to just going to the library and checking it out for a week.
Per magazines/periodicals, you will notice that many of the web sites for those publications will charge you just to see the content – and it’s not cheap, either. Reading the same publication at the library saves you quite a bit of money in that respect.
Another instance of where the library has a distinct advantage over the internet is with related materials. When you browse specific categories of books, you know that everything you see is related to each other properly. The internet has never gotten this quite right. This is evidenced easily for every time you’ve performed a search and said, "Um.. that was not what I was looking for." The library has the advantage simply for the reason their catalogs were organized by live human beings, and not some computer algorithm that guessed and failed – again. And again. And again.
Libraries are not dead. Not by a long shot. If you haven’t been to your local library in some time, go there.
Need a reason to go? Here’s a few good ones:
Got kids and wish there a place you take them to get them out of the house every once in a while? Your library was always there. Check the local calendar for yours for current events.
Live in a loud household and want somewhere to just sit quietly and browse the internet for a few hours? Go to the library.
Got an annoying wife/husband/brother/sister/whatever and need to get away for a short while do you don’t strangle them? Go to the library.
If more people went to the library more often, the world would be a better place. Of this I’m sure of. 
Is your local library modernized?
Post a comment with the location of your local library (by town and state for example) and what you think of it. Is it worth going to? If yes, state why. If not, state what needs to be improved. Either way, chances are they may see your comment and act on it.
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our local library is also pretty convenient. not only can you search their database online, you can even issue your own books (at a special kiosk machine, within the actual library) so you don’t have to wait in line, you still have to though if you owe fines or have anything on hold thats come in. you can also get return slips/book reserve notes emailed to you, which saves paper!
they also just got a facebook page and blogsite established too
heres the URL if you want to check it out
http://citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz/
I work at my local public library, in Perry, Florida. We are a rural community, with a small budget. However, we provide a ton of services that citizens cannot get anywhere else in our county. And this situation is the norm for libraries across the country.
Many local offices of federal & state agencies are closing their doors. The public must now use the phone, or (mainly) the internet, to acquire those services which they used to be able to get in person. This is where the library comes in. Libraries are seeing a HUGE increase in people coming in to use the internet to apply for government services, like food stamps & unemployment compensation.
Job hunting is another area where we help. In many instances in our county, when someone walks into a business looking for work, they’re directed to a website. Many places don’t accept a written application handed in to the store manager, people must get online. This means they have to find the website, navigate the online application (not always easy), and attach or email a resume. Some of these applications seem like they were created by a robot, and are ridiculously un-user-friendly. This proves very difficult for some people, and makes finding a job even harder.
In all of these situations and more, libraries and the staff therein are the ones who help the community. There are even studies in progress right now aiming to quantify the increase in services & internet access that libraries are having to provide to make up for the loss due to the closing of government agencies’ local locations. The government is getting away with one here. Libraries however, are glad to help. When more people come through our doors looking for help, we are obliged to provide it. There is a definite increase in services provided by libraries, however, we’re seeing NO commensurate increase in funding.
In addition to plain old public internet access, including wi-fi, we provide assistance with applying for food stamps, jobs, unemployment compensation, etc. We do all of this for free.
Please, visit your local public library and see for yourself. Here in Perry, we have 13 public access computers, and like your library Rich, we rarely have an empty seat in the house.
Thanks so much for bringing attention to libraries.
We are a family of 5 and we go to the library at least once a week. At any one time our family has 75-100 items checked out (mostly books, but also dvds, computer games and books on tape). We love our library. They also have fun activities for the kids to learn new things-they just did a CSI science activity the other day at our library
I can’t imagine libraries dying. They are great ,free (paid for by your tax dollars anyway) resource AND there is just something different about reading an actual paper book then reading it on a computer screen that makes it better.
Since I have a computer and an internet connection at home, I find myself only going to the library only when I need a book that does not necessarily need to be current information. Most of the books in my library are not current, they are typically ten to fifty years old.
If I need a new book I will first go to Amazon to look because in all probability my home library does not have the book and if they do, I will need to get on a waiting list..
Basically, libraries are poor sources for information unless you are poor. The internet really does have the most current information and the cheapest information when you consider the costs of running a library. Most all internet information is free. Information from the library is not free when you consider what the taxpayers are paying for it..
I cant think of any information you cannot get on the internet that you can get at the library. Is there any?
I know it sounds like I am bashing libraries but are these not the facts?
David, you are correct on several of your points.
However, libraries have tremendous value. When you look at non-fiction material, yes, several libraries are lacking the most recent information. On the other hand, when you look at the newest fiction, libraries are doing a great job.
There are definitely things that we’re losing due to the advancing of technology. If libraries become one of those casualties, society in general loses.
Libraries also provide a ton of services that benefit the unemployed, whether poor or not.
And, as regards the information that you “can’t” get on the internet, that you can at the library, I’d say you just aren’t thinking hard enough. Can you read any magazine or newspaper online for free? No. Can you get many of those same publications at the library for free? Yes.
Your criticisms of libraries are valid, just not comprehensive enough in my opinion. There are a lot of changes being made to the way we do things, and there’s a long way to go still. Libraries are FAR from obsolete just yet.
I’m not trying to get overly argumentative here, but newspapers are also on their way out. They are being replaced by online news sources. Newpaper subscriptions are at record lows as a reflection of free news being available on the internet. My home town has free newspapers with local news. I would never pay for them when I can get my hometown information for free.
BTW, most magazines and newspapers are available online for free now. Internet subscriptions to major news sources are falling by the wayside. Most people are not willing to pay for online newspapers, not when many of their competitors are charging nothing.
As far as paper magazines and books go, I love them because it sure beats sitting at a computer monitor reading the same thing. I read for about two hours each night in bed before I go to sleep. Its a real luxury to not have to sit at a computer monitor and read the same stuff for free. Even though I have to pay for all my magazine subscriptions its worth it to lay in bed and read them.
The best of both worlds would be if libraries provided magazines that I could check out and take home for a few days. Why don’t they? I’m more in to reading current information than in reading fiction. To me, reality is far more interesting.
I also browsed through my libraries CD collection…98% of the music was of no interest to me and I really do like all kinds of music….but it has to be good. I got the impression that all the good music that is donated either gets stolen or is never returned. Perhaps I should donate 50 of my music CD’s and see how many are left after a year?
Libraries will never be obsolete, just less useful as technology advances bringing the same information to the home for free. Information does not need to be stored in some centralized relatively expensive cavern. Not when we have the internet and computers in our homes.
With books available in devices like the Kindle and the Sony Reader, the usage of libraries will decline even further.
Libraries will always be around though…I certainly hope so.
i have a great library system in my town, we have the Seminole county library which has 5 branches. if you’re returning a book you can return it to any of the 5 branches, or you can recommend one that the library doesn’t have. the Oviedo branch has around 12-16 computers that all work, and overall the activities are pretty decent.
they are also a good resource to get cds and dvds to try them out.