There is outrage this morning amongst bibliophiles due to the proposed closing of school libraries as we know them in favour of replacing them with digital reference centres. All books are being moved into the classrooms (or tossed into bonfires) and the libraries are being replaced by high tech stuff.
Sometimes I worry all the culture kids today are exposed to is found in their cheese.
I believe so much in moving things forward in all areas of life and in keeping with the times but a book is not replaceable.
A book is a friend. A book is a place to escape to, a place to lose yourself in. A book is a chance to glimpse into anything anywhere and hold that possibility between your two hands.
A book is a long road in a world of short fast roads.
When I walk into a library I am overcome. I love the smell of the books, I love the publicness of libraries and I absolutely love the people who work in there who sweat and pant and salivate over books, characters and plots.
So little time, so many books.
Computers hold much but they don’t ever hold that.
Hear, hear!
I am with you. The smell and touch of old books fills me with joy. My first librarian, from my elementary school, Jane Garnett, had a profound effect on me – I still remember her reading to us, teaching us about the Dewey Decimal System. In fact, we are still friends on Facebook.
It’s scary to see what is happening. My kids are surrounded by screens. Books still hold appeal for them, but I don’t know for how long.
I’m with Tracey exactly – there is nothing like cracking a brand new book AND nothing like opening a book from a library and imagining who has enjoyed it before you. (I often wish librrary books would come with a page in the back where people could add their comments). This made me so incredibly sad.
Yes! you know this. Kindle is good for avid reader going on bike tour or villa in Italy otherwise I want the real thing xoxo me
I love books so much… I have no interest in a Kindle reader or anything in that form when I want to escape into a novel. I need to feel the weight of the book in my hands, and turn the pages with my fingers. I want to smell it. I’m so nervous for the future of libraries and printed books… gah.
alice- I hoped you would look at this first- I love your points. I for one would be dead in the water without imagination and I need to feed it to survive.
You are preaching to the choir, here, lady!
I am horrified that “resources” are being limited to digital facts for many reasons.
For one, children need guidance on how to assess those resources and understand the difference between a reliable database and an unverified website.
For another, not only does pleasure reading strengthen reading skills, but if models good writing skills and modes, and opens imagination.
It was Albert Einstein, after all, who reportedly told one woman that if she wanted her son to grow to be as smart as him, she should read him fairy tales. Facts without imagination will never have the tools to imagine new things and map new territory.