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42 votes
Some believe that going to the library will someday become obsolete. Do you agree or disagree with this prediction? Explain your answer and support it with at least two reasons.

(For a Digital Media Course)

User Terpinmd
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2 Answers

15 votes
15 votes

Answer:

Despite the widespread belief that the internet has rendered libraries obsolete, they still serve as vital sources of information and learning. Libraries offer access to books, internet, and other resources free of charge, which is especially important for low-income individuals and families. Additionally, libraries provide a calm and focused environment for studying and research. They also play a crucial role in promoting reading and literacy among children through programs like the Summer Reading Challenge. Moreover, while the internet offers a vast amount of information, it can be difficult to navigate and may contain unreliable or false information. Libraries provide access to specialized expertise and reliable sources that are essential for research and learning. Finally, libraries have embraced technology and offer e-books and other digital resources for easy access. Therefore, libraries remain an important and necessary part of our communities.

User Emeric
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2.7k points
18 votes
18 votes

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

Many people think that with the advent of the internet libraries are becoming obsolete sources of information. Yet we all know not everything is available on the internet and it is a labyrinth of false information for the unwise and the inexperienced. Libraries are more than just a room full of books. In a world where everything costs money and the prices are only going up, libraries provide reading pleasure for free. They are places where research, revision and learning takes place. For many people in the local community, they also provide that all important internet access. For the young, the library is the first place that teaches them reading is fun. Closing libraries is like slamming the door on the face of the poorest and neediest members of our community.

Libraries are still vital for research and educational purposes. No university or secondary school can function without one. Similarly, the local student population, both young and old, require access to textbooks which cost far too much to purchase. While it's easy to think of the internet as a one-stop shop for all knowledge, there are some gaps that only library documents, books, and maps can address. Local historians, as well as academic and historical scholars, still use paper and print to explore the truth. Instead of trawling through hundreds of internet pages looking for specific information, I personally find the librarian an expert at identifying the correct textbook that I require. In a crowded household with noisy distractions, libraries are an oasis of calm for the stressed out student during exam revision.

Libraries play a key role in providing books for children in the community. Imagine you are a single parent on low income with two or more children. How can you afford to constantly purchase new books? The library is the only place where books are available for free and not just a few but a vast collection of books. Reading Agency research shows that 64% of 5-10 year olds use the library to borrow books. Reading campaigns like the Summer Reading Challenge enable parents to keep their children occupied instead of being glued to a screen. I remember doing this challenge every single year with my sibling and still recall the pleasure of collecting stickers and badges for every book read and the sense of achievement when the challenge was completed. Librarians run reading sessions with arts and crafts to build a love of books in toddlers. No one will argue that reading addiction is going to create social problems in our children!

Regardless of the fact that some libraries charge after a set period of time, all libraries offer at least some free online access. You know the dangers of misinformation if you've spent at least five minutes navigating through the maze of thousands of medical and health websites. When you need a person with specialised expertise and who is educated to identify and assess accurate information—a skill that is in high demand—a librarian is there for you. For many elderly or low income members of the community, the library is their only internet source. Even libraries have cottoned onto the convenience of e-books. You no longer have to carry heavy books to and fro from your local library. Instead you can use the app Libby and download the book you want to read.

User Chetan Paliwal
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