There has been a lot of buzz in libraryland about the proposed "bookless" Library system starting up in Bexar County, Texas. A county judge is championing a new county service, BiblioTech.
The new system is described as a "supplement" to the library services provided by the City of San Antonio and other towns in the county. "Think like an Apple Store" is the description used for these new county libraries. Ereaders and Ebooks will be the primary content available at these outlets - customers can check out the readers or download content to their own readers.
It isn't clear what kind of staffing will be present, but the articles also describe the Biblio Tech outlets as a "low cost" supplement. Low cost? Have they looked into the cost of readers, digital content, furniture?
I am trying not to be judgemental or negative, but I don't know that this really will supplement library service - just smacks of elitism to me. The judge seems to assume that EVERYONE has an Ereader and/or knows how to use it. Yes, Ereaders have boomed, and lots of people have them - but it is tied to economic issues and exposure. I'm all for getting the digital content out to the people, and giving people access to the devices they need. But if you have a device that you have no clue how to use, you HAVE to have some "geniuses" behind the bar, don't you think? Just saying...
Does the Biblio Tech really qualify as a Library? What do you think?
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