Reading #3

The Future of Libraries, Beginning the Great Transformation
By: Thomas Frey

This article discusses the history of collections of art, and how it started with Leonardo da Vinci. His art was priceless and truly amazing. Libraries helped preserved his art, without them we would not have them today. As time went on, libraries function in society changed. Libraries started out being a warehouse of books and other collections, but the average person was too poor to own a book. When the printing press was invented, this changed. More people could afford books, and could actually write some of their own. Because of the printing press, information is widely available and accessible to the average person. Because our world is constantly changing, and the future of libraries is limitless, possible trends were discussed as to what people think will become of the ‘future library’.

I agree with these trends, and definitely can see them happening in the future. There will soon be a variety of ways to access information. Books and the Internet wont be the main way to retrieve information anymore. Technology is constantly changing. There is really no way to predict what new gadget or device will be coming out next. I think this is interesting and exciting, to know that something new will always be coming out and in a sense make life more easier. When I go to stores, I am amazed at the things you can store information on, and one day this will even change. They have USB drives now that are so tiny, portable and can fit on key chains and not be too bulky. Amazing! When they talked about changing into a verbal society, I was a bit skeptical. I’m not sure that I would want to lose my keyboard and talk on the computer with everything that I do. Chat rooms and other social networks, this would be very helpful in. I do believe libraries are in a way the center of culture. They hold our past, and carry the latest information of our future. It will be incredible what the future of a library consists of. Whatever it is, I am sure it will be for the best and a complete change from today’s library.