As media forms continue to evolve, the methods by which we obtain media have shifted. In particular, library usage has encountered competition through the advent of electronic book rentals.
“School libraries, I think [people] use them about the same just because it’s here and it’s convenient,” sophomore Elizabeth Fretz said. “But public libraries, people are probably using them less because you have access to books online and there’s just more accessibility with e-readers.”
Changes in materials and curricula have also dulled the scope of what libraries can offer.
“Usually in school when we read books, they give you the books and I just don’t really check books out all that much,” junior Nick Montfort said.
As such, the function of libraries has changed to remain relevant to academic life.
“It’s not just about coming to find a reference book anymore,” six-year librarian Krissy Ronan said. “Access to the digital and online resources that we can provide, they’re expensive and so people don’t have them individually but we can share them as a school.”
Those involved in the library community also believe that these alternative methods of literary consumption can coexist.
“We don’t have an e-book sharing system yet in the school, but the public library definitely does and it’s something they’ve tried to figure out for our school system to make it available for everybody,” Ronan said.
However, there are certain opportunities book purchasing offers that libraries cannot afford.
“I like to annotate and I can’t annotate in a library book,” Fretz said.
Regardless of upcoming industry changes, Ronan believes that ideals of literature guarantee libraries a spot in the future.
“Reading for pleasure is always going to be something that I think happens. Why pay for books when you can [get] them for free?” Ronan said. “So I think public and school libraries will always have a hand in that, whether it is paper or digital.”