tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18504323.post114545681691444594..comments2023-03-24T02:59:21.585-05:00Comments on LIS 569: History of American librarianship: Public Libraries Vs. the Internet: Do We Have a Chance?Greg Downeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154543464555817869noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18504323.post-1145501828114818382006-04-19T21:57:00.000-05:002006-04-19T21:57:00.000-05:00Kristin has succintly stated many of my thoughts w...Kristin has succintly stated many of my thoughts with libraries and the internet. When you think about it, how many people come in to a library just to use the computers, particularly the internet? Quite a few, and those people are often the ones who cannot afford a computer or internet access in their own home and need the library to provide that access and equipment. Many libraries have used the internet to their advantage -- many of the library branches in the Chicago Public Library system when I worked there had aquired new computers (sometimes more than what the branches had previously), which meant that the increased use of the computers often meant more people walking in the door and therefore increased the number of users in the library. And increased numbers always look good for a library. Some branches even saw circulation rates increase due to the computers, so the internet can be a good thing for libraries.<BR/>One more thought on that: by providing computers and the internet to the public, libraries are acting as equalizers in society for people who normally without the library would not have access to these things do have access. And I think that's a great thing, not something to be feared.Liahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12641177587797720678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18504323.post-1145469645838269122006-04-19T13:00:00.000-05:002006-04-19T13:00:00.000-05:00I don't think we have to worry about libraries bec...I don't think we have to worry about libraries becoming 'Net centers or obsolete. The study shows that users differentiate between information provided at the library and on the internet. It seems from the study that the main deterrent from using the library is convenience and lack of time. For this reason the internet is more widely used; however, this does not mean that people would want only the internet, it is just easier to use most of the time.Nancy & Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08939963791355971100noreply@blogger.com