The digital age has made new ways of accessing information, data and knowledge widespread. Traditional methods of storage including books and libraries are losing their popularity as e-books and online content resources gain prominence. Many libraries across the US are seeing a decline that threatens their existence but one group has decided to re-think the library in order to make it relevant in today’s age. In San Antonio the first ever book-free library is scheduled to be opened for the general public by the fall of 2013. The book-free library will be called “BiblioTech” and it will be a part of an entire system that will comprise of bookless public libraries, which will be spread in the entire region of Bexar. The interesting thing, about “BiblioTech” bookless library is that it’s not going to be just a “bring your own device” spot.
The “BiblioTech” will actually lend e-readers to the general public for the duration of two weeks. Computers and other types of PC will also be available, but there will be no books or card catalogs. This raises the concern of pilfering, but the man who is behind this project, Judge Nelson Wolff, does not agree with the theft idea, as he told San Antonio Express during an interview:
“We do have your name, we do have your address. You check it out for two weeks, just like a library book. In two weeks, your e-book goes dead, so you won’t have anything worth keeping.”
So in spite of possible theft issues, Wolff seems pretty optimistic and confident about the idea of book free library that will be the first of its kind spot in San Antonio. Interestingly, academic libraries have been trying out bookless venues for quite some time now.
Source: Gizmodo
Photo: Gizmodo
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