Image Credit: Associated Press
Located in San Antonio, Texas, the BiblioTech library is decked out in iMacs and iPads. The interior looks like that of an Apple store, and the librarians mimic the dress code of the tech giant as they wear hoodies and matching shirts.
Although this learning space is up-to-date with the latest technology, something is missing—books.
This tech-savvy hangout has proved to be popular—it is difficult to get a iMac after school hours, and half of the tablets are checked out with up to five books at any time. Many regulars, with the assistance of staff, have learnt to use them with ease.
The Head Librarian, Ashley Elkholf, stated that there are advantages to working in this new library—there is no need to shelve and repair damaged books, and chasing after people who have overdue books or fines is also minimized.
As there are no books, the space is smaller than that of a conventional library. Instead, there is a digital collection of 10,000 titles. The county saved money when building the library—it cost US$2.3 million—as there is no need to create space for books.
Yet, a library like this has also gained some criticism—19-year-old Abigail Reyes misses the books, and said that the glare from the screens hurt her eyes.
What do you think—is this the future of libraries, or would you still like to see books in them?
Image Credit: Associated Press
Image Credit: Associated Press
Image Credit: Associated Press
Image Credit: Associated Press
[via Washington Post]