A recent New York Times article talked about the changes to public libraries in recent years. One would think that they are no longer needed because of the web, but the opposite seems to be the case. “Just the opposite,” said Susan Benton, president and chief executive of the Urban Libraries Council. “Physical visits and virtual visits are off the charts.”
Libraries have been reimagining themselves — a necessity for staying relevant as municipal budgets are slashed and e-books are on the rise. Among the more innovative is the Chicago Public Library, which offers a free Maker Lab with access to 3D printers, laser cutters, and milling machines.
At Boston's central library alone, the number of physical visits jumped to 1.72 million in 2013, up by almost half a million from 2012. The library, which was founded in 1848 and is the oldest public urban library in the country, has a major renovation underway with a new retail space, a souped-up section for teenagers, and a high-stool bar where patrons can bring their laptops and look out over Boylston Street.
The Boston Public Library (From http://optimistontour.com/?tag=boston)
Teen Central is to become what is known as “homago” space — where teenagers can “hang out, mess around and geek out.” It will include lounges, restaurant booths, game rooms and digital labs, as well as software and equipment to record music and create comic books. The vibe will be that of an industrial loft, with exposed pipes and polished concrete floors, what Amy Ryan, president of the library, called “eco-urban chic.”
“The sand is shifting under our business,” she said. “When I started out in the '70s, you would walk up to the reference desk and ask a question and I would find an answer. Today it's the opposite. People turn to librarians to help them sift through the 10 million answers they find on the Internet. We're more like navigators.”
While e-books are gaining popularity, print is still king. In 2012, 28% of adults nationwide read an e-book, according to the Pew Research Center, while 69% read a print book. Only 4% of readers are “e-book only,” the center reported.
At Electronic Products Magazine we will keep reinventing, like libraries, to serve the electronics engineer the best we possibly can. Let me know what online or print features you would like at Twitter @JHarris99 or jpharrison@hearst.com.
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