[M] libraries don't need Silicon Valley "disruption"

[RS Wood]

From the «unless it's free coffee» department:
Title: The last thing libraries need is Silicon Valley “disruption.”
Author: naters
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2018 10:05:50 -0400
Link: https://www.vox.com/first-person/2018/7/26/17616516/amazon-silicon-valley-libraries-forbes

Article URL:
https://www.vox.com/first-person/2018/7/26/17616516/amazon-silicon-valley-libraries-forbes[1]

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17626020[2]

Points: 379

# Comments: 329
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Links:
[1]: https://www.vox.com/first-person/2018/7/26/17616516/amazon-silicon-valley-libraries-forbes (link)
[2]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17626020 (link)
[3]: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZP9Q7QUNS3QYY (link)

[JAB]

On Sat, 28 Jul 2018 08:29:02 -0400, RS Wood <r...@therandymon.com>
wrote:

>The last thing libraries need is Silicon Valley "disruption."

I suspect these days, universities have done away with print
scientific periodicals, and approved users must login. Needless to
say, storing print (books, magazines, etc) requires more/more space
over time.

Schools are transitioning to computer based learning, without print
textbooks. Last time I was aware, university text books were quite
expensive, at least in the sciences.

Economic costs is what bean counters look at, and city/state
government officials will scrutinize relative cost of print vs
computer based options. And to appease taxpayers, opt to cheapest
method, unless protests exist.

Google, no doubt, has invested serious monies into electronic books;
from a convenience viewpoint, it would be nice to access any book
published, or article published, instantly.

But, when private corps want a fistful of dollars, for their efforts,
over and over, I would suspect the "haves" can afford it, but not the
"have nots." Which means, the have nots will not be enriched, nor
seek out material that require coins to view.

Bean counters traditionally determine where decisions are made on
this/that....afraid to say, economics will determine the future of
libraries.

As an aside, a small midwest town had a choice. A new library, or a
new swimming pool. Swimming pool was built.