[Publib] books

[Felicia Cheney]

Regarding the WSJ article--the author points out that out of copyright
material will be available online.  So...when libraries were primarily the
last bastions of civilization's history of knowledge, it made sense to keep
copies of the classics.  But if libraries now are not the sole keepers of
these classics, why not keep them in forms that may be stored in many places
at one time in much less space?  I see libraries in our current era as
keepers of local history and as conduits for knowledge.  In other words, we
don't have to have Marlowe on the shelf as long as we provide access to his
works on our computers.
 
We deal in knowledge and information.  Contrary to what many people believe,
I think that libraries are about to enter a new golden age.  We are on the
cusp of providing access to world knowledge like never before.  We are truly
the gatekeepers--not the cultural police.  I  think the issue of
"culturing" the masses is an elitist argument that only further separates us
from our communities.  
 
Just my opinion.
 
Felicia Cheney, Director
Edgartown Free Public Library
508-627-1373
 
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