$39.5 Million Hi-Tech Library Opens In Illinois

The new $39.5 million Fountaindale Public Library features: flat-screen TVs, video games, self-checkout stations, a variety of e-readers, and a cafe. Library officials say the new facility is a blueprint for libraries of the future, and will focus on using new technologies. From the article: "The Fountaindale Public Library, with its state-of-the-art, Wi-Fi equipped space, is starkly different from the previous antiquated library, a nearby one-story brick structure built in 1975 that awaits the wrecking ball. Officials are hopeful the new facility attracts a demographic libraries haven't seen in a number of years — young professionals."

Comments

I Can't Wait!

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't wait to be a homeless person so I can start hanging out in that library!

Re:Recession?

[Defenestrar]

Or perhaps they heard that education is the sure way to bolster and sustain the economy in the long term within a world market.

Re:Recession?

[anyGould]

Hey, we got cash for new sports stadiums and missiles and what-not, why not libraries - at least they target generally lower-income people.

Edmonton moved to the "high-tech" libraries a few years ago, and the only complaint I have about them is the self-checkout, and that's just because I like librarians (the machines generally work just fine).

Videogames get kids in the door, at which point there's a chance they'll actually pick up a book. Ditto movies and music. Public wi-fi is a logical partner to libraries (open access, etc.)

Can doesn't mean should

[joe 155]

Don't get me wrong, I like libraries. I use them fairly frequently too, actually. But the single biggest factor for me about a library is the number and quality of books. Wi-Fi is nice, though I have mobile internet with me most of the time anyway. Plasma screens usually just relay simple info that could be covered by a sign.

I don't want to disparage technology - but it's much less important than the books (and good chairs...).

Is it now time to get off your lawn?

Re:Can doesn't mean should

[Ephemeriis]

The question is, essentially, "what is a library?"

Is it purely a book repository?

Or is it more of a cultural or information repository?

Because a good chunk of our culture and information these days is never printed out in a book.

Wooooooooeeeee!

[metrometro]

Flat screen TVs? Self-checkout? That makes it as sophisticated as... every grocery store in Bollingbrook.

That said, I think the reinvention of libraries from a book-storage facility to a community space devoted to being a platform for self education, ad hoc business, and community organizing is awesome. That, not the inclusion of teevee, is the point worth noting here.

Re:Waste.

[Defenestrar]

I doubt it, in my experience most libraries fill far more than just the role of book repository. My local public library has live readings, local authors, numerous child programs (including some for infants and families), internet and computer access, study rooms, conference rooms, inter-library loan for those hard to get (and very much non-electronic) books, tutoring programs, etc... They fill both social and personal flesh-space needs centering around knowledge, information sharing, and learning.

And don't forget the almost-mystic power of a good librarian. Perhaps they could perform in a telework model if libraries do go the way of Blockbuster, but they'll still be needed as both public and private servants.

Re:libraries

[mcspoo]

As one who works in a library, my response is more than likely to be prejudiced...

Part of why we need libraries is a total failure of informational literacy. Many of the people we see today have no clue how to tell the difference between REAL and NOT REAL (hence, people who think World News Digest or Fox News are "real": they lack the skill set to determine what information has value and what does not.)

Libraries are also tremendous community and learning centers. We're really the center of democracy and freedom. We aid the local schools, the senior centers, the youth assistance groups, and provide training and access to job searching. A community without a Library is a community without a heart: it will wither, suffer and die.

Maybe one day a level of informational literacy will exist. Maybe one day it'll be taught in schools, from Pre-School through College/University. That day is not today, and not likely in this century. Modern Librarians are experts on finding information, and making sure it's good information.

Need to know more? Look up multiple resources on Informational Literacy. Just for an example: http://tln.lib.mi.us/searchpath/

Re:Waste.

[anyGould]

>>>numerous child programs, tutoring

that's what videogames and school/teachers are for

If I had to pick between a good teacher and a good librarian, I'd take the librarian. The upside of spending your work day surrounded by books is that you tend to become well-rounded and well-informed.

Disclaimer: I spent a summer in my youth working in a library (upgrading the card catalog from Apple II to PC). You can't help but learn things in that environment.

Nice to see money going to libraries

[starseeker]

I guess I'm a bit old school when it comes to libraries (nothing better than an old Carnige library building) so I'm a little dubious that televisions and video games should be there - they constitute a distraction from reading and research. On the other hand, it's heartening to hear that money is being put into libraries - they're an important resource. Technology for cataloging and checkout is certainly good, as a library full of books can be quite the resource management challenge.

I'm a little surprised they're unhappy about not seeing professionals - in my experience as people move to the young professional stage specialization means the local public library isn't likely to have what they need (specialized technical books tend to be a long shot, since only one in 1000 patrons will want it and that one probably would order a newer version through Amazon...). On the other hand, they're GREAT for young kids who will burn through a ton of books on a broad range of topics in short order. They're also good when you get towards retirement and don't need the intense focus demanded by professional careers - wandering into the library and picking up a random book for half a day is more practical then.

If they want young professionals(why?) they'd have to get a whole bunch of subscriptions (online, if nothing else) to paywall publications that people can't cheaply get at home via the internet. (One of the great things about universities - if you want a random scientific article you can often go online and download it, as opposed to coughing up $30...)

Re:libraries

[anyGould]

Also, because a library is one of the last places where Everyone Is Equal. So long as you're well behaved, a library doesn't care who you are. Which is how it should be.

A favorite story of mine is a library system that tried to fix their "homeless problem", and so added rules prohibiting sleeping. Which lasted until the librarians kicked out a wealthier patron who was caught catnapping in one of the chairs. The rule was quickly revoked...

Re:Deficit == 50% of operating budget

[fiannaFailMan]

Illinois is broke dot com

Space age libraries. Woohoo.

Yeah, who needs all that high-falutin edumication stuff? All this talk of having an educated population is just an excuse for wasteful spending to fund the fat cat librarians. Think of how that $39.5 million would have plugged the state's budget hole.

Re:libraries

[fiannaFailMan]

I used to get annoyed by this homeless dude in the San Francisco public library at the Civic Center who would sit muttering to himself out loud constantly.

Equally annoying was the nicely dressed guy having an argument with his bank over his cellphone at the top of his lungs.

Moral: Homeless people haven't cornered the market on bad or annoying behaviour.