Please Don't Take The Library Away!

Today’s article that intrigued me was written by Duncan Robinson entitled, “Diary Of A Third Year: Plagiarists and idlers - beware the power of the internet”.  I think Duncan’s main intention with this article was to make aware the power and information availability through the Internet in researching and compiling information for essays and papers.  With that comes the power and searchability for professors to investigate whether or not your writing is that of your own through the power of Turnitin.  While the convenience of working through a term paper or essay has certainly eased up for students today, so too has the ease and accessibility for professors to ensure that you are still doing your own work.

Actually what I found intriguing about this article is the fact that he states, “Websites that digitise journals – like Jstor – mean I can find articles instantly.  I can print them off or simply read them online.  And I can do so without leaving my house – or even my bed.”  Does this mean that our public libraries are now in danger of being extinct?  What we’ve always known as the place to gain knowledge, research history, and check out the classics may no longer be needed?  I have to admit I was never a raving fan of libraries in my younger days…as much as my mom forced us to read books especially during the summer.  I always found the outdoors and physical activities to be my escape.  I do feel saddened to think what would happen if these places didn’t exist.  How does that change the way young people grow up?  Does it impact their interaction with a tangible tome or a page turning sci fi?  Would the mere fact of physically walking into a library take away a certain romance and ambiance that a library exudes?  I think so….I think in a way, technology has neutralized the book and article seeking process.

There is still something to be said about having the climb up two flights of stairs, navigating through several shelving units running your fingers across the spines below the Dewey decimal numbers to finally arrive at your lucky number!  Experiences like that will never be the same.