April 19, 2013
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Have Libraries Had Their Day?
I dearly love the library. I go to my local library at least two times a week. I go to the Hershey library over the summer for their reading program. But I’ve also been to the Mount Joy library to borrow books and go see an author. I’ve been to the Middletown library for a ghost tour they do since the place is haunted and their annual book sale. And I go to every library book sale I know about. I get books I want and it helps support the libraries.
I got my first library card when I was 13, I believe. There are three books I remember borrowing after getting my first library card: After The First Death by Robert Cormier, Incident at Loring Groves by Sonia Levitin and The Boy on the Cover by Phoebe Matthews. All three books I enjoyed, Incident at Loring Groves becoming a favorite and not too long after borrowing those books, I bought a book called Tenderness by Robert Cormier.And of course, over the many years that I’ve used the library, I have discovered many authors that have become favorites. For example, Diana Wynne Jones. I borrowed Howl’s Moving Castle from Hershey library in May of 2009 and a month later, I went to Borders to buy my own copy and another books of hers. Through the library I have also discovered Lois Duncan, Joan Lowery Nixon, Betty Ren Wright and many others. I also own books by them now.So I couldn’t imagine my life without the library.However, a few months ago I read an article about author Terry Deary. He is the author of Horrible Histories books. I have heard his books are good and thought at some point that I would read a few. But Mr. Deary believes that libraries have had their day. He thinks they have been around too long and are no longer relevant.He said that he is not attacking libraries, but rather, the concept behind libraries. He said that because it’s been 150 years (the UK first got free public libraries in 1850) and people think they are entitled to free books at the expense of authors, publishers and tax payers. To read the rest of the article click here.I don’t know much about Terry Deary and I haven’t read any of his books. But I do know many authors in the UK have been trying to save their libraries there. Philip Pullman is one of the authors helping to save the libraries in the UK.But it has been similar here in Pennsylvania. Some libraries have lost funding, some have even closed. My local library has lost quite a bit of funding, but they seem to be doing okay, thanks to the library patrons going to their coffee shop, book sales, renting new DVDs and many other things they do to raise money. Middletown lost funding from their borough because the borough thinks the library should be self-sufficient.As a reader and a writer, I love the library. It’s been a place for me to go and spend the day, a place for me to find many wonder books and authors, a place for me to go to events and even meet authors. I truly think libraries are important and as someone who is writing a book trilogy, I know when they are published, I would love for my books to go into libraries. Would people be reading my books for free? Of course, but it would also be a way for people to discover my books. I could get fans and sales that way. I know I’ve bought many books from authors I originally discovered from borrowing their books at the library.To me, libraries are amazing places, places of discovery and knowledge. If libraries were to disappear, I do not think it would be a good thing. I hope that there will always be libraries around.What is your opinion of what Terry Deary said? Have libraries had their day? Is it time for them to go?
Comments (17)
Not gonna lie…I don’t go to the library that often. Of course, I own way too many books as a result…although the majority of them were good books that I would not easily part with…
I think the real problem is increasingly not that people don’t go to the library, or people don’t go to the bookstores, and more that people just don’t like to read books. I mean, why read a long, hard, boring book when you can pop online and read short, digestable articles and blogs and twitter? The majority of people I knew as a kid and teen just didn’t like reading, and now as an adult, I find that people get a little defensive about reading and insist that they do it, but it’s almost always in those short, digestable bits of reading they do online.
Have libraries outlived their usefulness? *shrug* No?
But I do think they’re falling out of favour.
The two libraries near here both seem to be doing well and seem to have a lot of patrons. Hard to say what the future holds for them. Like everything else, they need to keep evolving if they want to stay open.
i think there is enough support for libraries from people who have money in those areas where people have money. i would think authors and publishers would want to have their books in libraries for the reasons you said- that people read the books and then buy them to read again. as for the taxpayers, hmm. we pay taxes that do a lot of things that not everyone benefits from. but i sure would rather support libraries than wars. says a lot about a society what we argue about supporting. the fact that we first cut support for libraries and education says too much.
I visit libraries all over the country. Some are vibrant cultural hubs in their community, some less so. Even in a digital age, libraries have a role insuring access to information. And I don’t worry that libraries cost me book sales. On the contrary, libraries are where many readers find, and hopefully fall in love with, my books.
I still love libraries. Funding here is reduced to and there was the threat of closings, but librarians take cut in hours, and faithful patrons do come through to help keep them open. We don’t have a coffee shop in ours, but we have book sales, and can drives.
I don’t know if I told you but my youngest sister Whimmy works for the library here in Bear. She loves it and is that person who puts books back in the shelves. We have a new large library too. :) No way are they going out of business. The place is always packed and people love it. I think people understand the gift it is to them.
Reminds me I have over due books. LOL
I thoroughly enjoyed your reading post. I’m always interested in what other people read and gettng new ideas for my own reading.
I did not know that Howl’s Moving Castle had been a book. I have seen the Miyazaki animation and loved it. I plan to buy it. Have you seen it? Would it be worth it to read the book also?
I’m with you. I would be terribly disappointed to lose libraries. They are the best places for introducing, and spurring a love for, reading to children. There is nothing like losing yourself in endless aisles of books. I too have discovered authors there whose books I later purchased.
Do I agree with Terry Deary?
Yes and no. Have libraries had their day? I fear it may be true. With economies struggling who is going to continue to support the libraries? With books so readily available for purchase due to the innovations of printing methods and lower cost, I fear libraries do not get the attendance that they once did. People go and sit in bookstores now and drink coffee. Libraries originally came about because only the rich could afford to purchase books and they decided to share or donate them so that others could share the pleasure. Plus now with everybody wanting to read online, or on tablets…
I do think a day will return when libraries will rise again though. I do not believe our technology and economies will last forever and a time will once again come when people will thirst for books to read. I imagine it will be long after my time however. I imagine one day way in the future someone will stumble upon an ancient abandoned library and marvel at it.
I too am a writer, always intending to write a novel in my later years… now I fear that it would be a fruitless effort since so few people read books anymore… Who would ever read it?
I believe there is some middle ground where the rights of authors are being respected and having their books be borrowed for free to the public. Perhaps by having either the government or the peope pay the authors an adequate salary both as a token of appreciation for all their hard work and to keep the habit of reading books alive. What do you think?
Unfortunately I think libraries have seen better days and I am not happy about it either but I think cyber libraries are going to be the way things go in the future.
For my little part of the world… both my county library and my local library are alive and well. Both libraries receive tremendous local support. The county library has gotten into local history and geneology clubs – that has helped with support and useage. My local library (it took us 7 years to fund to build it) has regular fund raisers now along with book sales. Great community support. I love my library. I suppose it is like any other business… it must remain relevant to it’s community. I’m like you… I have bought many books that I first discovered from the library. Sad to think what my world would be like without them…
I doubt libraries will die or print books for that matter. As much of a tech bunny I am, I prefer to hold the real thing. Plus on this economy, library use should be up.
I don’t go to the library as much as I used to, but I love reading and so I hope they don’t go away. Btw I only read physical books.
i agree and disagree with him. i mean in a way libraries are kinda obsolete in that people want to use the e-books, e-readers, and all that other new stuff. i personally don’t use them but i know many who LOVE them. i think libraries are awesome though and a lot of people do love them. they have books and its a place for many people to get online and get great information. plus they have that awesome “library smell” lol. i also think that one day computers and other electronic devices will just not work right while paper books will still be working and people need them. another thing is is that many old books will never get computerized and will only be in a book. therefore i think that yes libraries will be obsolete but still needed
I go to the library often. I’d rather borrow a book than buy it and read it once.
Terry Deary is a strange man, I think. He seems to be anti the very establishments that support his work. When I worked at a bookshop I didn’t actually run the children’s section but had quite a lot to do with it and over the years I was there watched his section expand and expand. There was some resistance to his books at first; parents and teachers didn’t approve of his new approach but the kids, of course, loved them. Now his books are everywhere and have been adapted for the TV (two versions; one for younger kids and one for teenagers) and even the radio.
I have to admit I don’t belong to a library although my town has a central one and many smaller ones (although those are all under threat of closure) but that’s because I tend to buy what I want to read. However my family and friends who have kids all belong to libraries and use them frequently.
The changes in the libraries seem to be bringing more people in. The layout is better, the access to computers and other study aids is incredible, even the fact that the staff are (in general) more friendly and willing to help rather than seeming to believe themselves a cut above everyone else is a massive improvement. But the funding must be kept for them. To remove it and close the libraries would be to prevent a whole mass of people from learning and being entertained away from their televisions. Sometimes I suspect that those in power don’t believe the public wants (or should want) to learn.
I think (as a professional in the field) that libraries as they used to be will falter and fail. Libraries that continue to grow and change will do well. When the economy went sour, public library usage went way up as people realized the savings they could have by using the services that the libraries provided. Many were amazed that libraries had so many services.
I personally am very pleased that my school district, as they renovate our building, not only worked hard to renovate the library to moderanize it, but also expanded the size of it by almost 1/4.
That to me, shows that there are pockets who still believe strongly in libraries. And for everyone, that’s a very good thing.
@brokenbindings2 - It seems all the libraries near me are continuing to change and grow. My library is always busy. I personally don’t know libraries will ever disappear. There are definitely enough people who care about libraries to keep them around.
@holeinyoursoul - I don’t know much about Terry Deary, but I have heard that his books are pretty popular and I did hear there was some controversy about them as well. I read the whole article and it just seems that Terry Deary thinks no one should be able to read books for free. If people want to read them, they should have to go and buy them. I do buy new books, but not all the time. I borrow from the library because I don’t always have the money to buy books I want to read. But like I said, through the library I’ve found many books that I like and I end up buying them later.
The libraries where I live are always busy. I know there are some people who think libraries are useless and no longer have a place, but there would also be a lot of people who disagree with that. I agree with you, that if libraries were gone, it would prevent a lot of people from being able to learn.
@okitapieds - I know a lot of people are getting e-readers and such now, but there are still many, many people who read print books as well. Some libraries are getting ebooks now though and even e-readers for people to borrow, if that’s how they wish to read. I think a lot of libraries are doing their best to keep up with the advancing technology and it seems they are keeping everyone happy.
@Shadowrunner81 - I only read print books as well. I’ve tried reading ebooks, but it’s just not the same.
@Shinbi_Belldandy - Yeah, I think that is probably the one way people might consider me old fashioned. It’ll always be print books for me. I don’t know about other places, but all the libraries I’ve visited here seem to be busy all the time.
@Parker_Texas - I’m glad your library is doing well. I’m not sure if it is happening in other states, but I do know libraries in Pennsylvania have lost their funding, as well as libraries in the UK. It’s sad that it is even happening, but it is good to know not all states are having the same problem.
@nov_way - From what I read in the article, it seems the authors in the UK do get money from the libraries when their books are borrowed. It is not as much as they get when a book of theirs sells in a bookstore, but they do get some money. However, I’m not sure if it is like that here in America. I’d have to see if I can find out if it is like that here as well.
Thanks for the rec
@JstNotherDay - I saw the Howl’s Moving Castle movie before reading the book and I really enjoyed it. Once I found out the movie was based on a book, I had to read it. I definitely think it is worth it to read the book. The author, Diana Wynne Jones, is one of my favorite authors and I just think her books are amazing.
Even though the libraries where I live are losing funding, it is not because no one goes to them. The libraries here are always busy. I just think it is the state not wanting to spend money on the libraries. And even though ebooks, ereaders, etc have become popular, print books still have their place. Many people, including myself, read print books and only print books.
You should still write a book. There will be people who read it.
@Ikwa - That is awesome your sister works for the library. I don’t think libraries will be disappearing either.
@Crystalinne - Some of the libraries here have had to cut hours, but I think that is better than them closing completely. Book sales help. So many people here go to the library book sales. Thanks for the rec.
@promisesunshine - Yeah, I agree.
@C_L_O_G - Thank you for the rec.