College Libraries Without Books

Groo writes to tell us CBS News is reporting that books are a thing of the past at a University of Texas library this fall. The University will be converting the library to a 'social gathering place more akin to a coffeehouse.' This push is done in response to the increasing use of online research as a part of undergraduate studies. According to the article the missing books will be replaced by "colorful overstuffed chairs for lounging, barstools for people watching, and booths for group work. In addition to almost 250 desktop computers, there will be 75 laptops available for checkout, wireless Internet access, computer labs, software suites, a multimedia studio, a computer help desk and repair shop, and a cafe."

Comments

bad move.

[rkohutek]

WOW, all I can say is that it's a shame ... there is nothing like books when it comes to learning; it's not easy to highlight, markup and take notes on a public computer or a loaned out laptop.

For shame, UT - a bad start onto a dangerous slippery slope.

Re:bad move.

[nigham]

I agree completely. What I can't understand is why these facilities have to come at the expense of printed books. You can have all of the computers, lounges, etc. without throwing out the books which remain one of the best methods for intense focused study. How long can you study on your wirelessly enabled computer without checking to see if there's been an update at /.?

Re:bad move.

[UndyingShadow]

My library gets upset when I highlight, markup, and take notes in their books.

Re:bad move.

[gowen]

They're not discarding the books. They're moving them to other buildings in the library system. You can still get hold of them, if you want to.

Sounds like a minor restructuring of the library system blown out of all proportion because one building that formerly held books doesn't any more.

Re:bad move.

[venicebeach]

I hear you, but on the other hand do we expect these facilities to stay the same forever? I wouldn't really make sense for the technology of information storage and distribution to just end with the building-full-of-books library.

These libraries are part of an evolution - think back to card catalogues, shelves full of scrolls perhaps before that - written language itself is not so old in the scope of human history. .. is the paper book or journal really the ultimate solution in this evolution?

For scientific research I find the online resources to be a tremendous improvement. If I read a paper and want to find referenced article I can click a link and have it immediately - rather than climbing three floors in the stacks. I can go through a lot more information, sorting and sifting through the relevant items much more effectively online compared with doing it on foot in the library... I still do love the smell of all those books though...

Online research is good and all...

[Dachannien]

...but sometimes you find that the original source for some material is in a text published thirty (or sixty, or even more) years ago that simply cannot be found online. While you may be able to hit the online journals for current research, there's no substitute for citing the fundamentals, and you can't honestly cite a work without even taking a moment to skim through it first.

So, until a university scans all of its book collection for online perusal, this is a step in the wrong direction.

Re:Try telling us why

[the_xaqster]

So how many people here find something interesting on the web, then print it out to read it if it is more than a few pages?

How many of these students will print out reams of paper that they would not have done if they had the book infront of them?

Re:Try telling us why

[ShieldW0lf]

It's easier to rewrite history when there are no books. It all happened just like in the Hollywood movies, right?

Man, and you thought Americans were undereducated and brainwashed before, wait till this takes off!

And it's starting in Texas, how poetic.