In the screening, “Out of Print,” they talked about libraries becoming obsolete because it is more convenient for people to look for reading materials online.  This made me a little sad when I think about the architectural marvels that some of these libraries are.  I think that being in a good library is like going to a museum. 

There is something about the smell of old books and the way they are organized on their shelves and even if I don’t read a ton of books, it is the feeling that I could if I wanted to.  The feeling that anything that I want to learn about is right there.  You may have to work a little to get the information or find that book that resonates with you or is just what you need to nourish your soul in that moment. 

I understand why people would simply want to search for their research online.  In today’s fast paced world and everyday obligations, we may not have the time to go to the library and do research, so it is more convenient to access a digital library.  It seems like libraries are being used more for accessing the internet and a sort of gathering place. I wonder what will happen to all the books and libraries if we just stop using them? Will we simply move forward without them or will they continue to exist alongside digital materials?

I can relate to the overall experience of getting a new book or enjoying the look of old books.  There is a certain nostalgia for entering a library and immediately being able to see the massive collection of books and how they are arranged.  I also see the appeal in having books to collect and display.  I may not read them all, but I like to have them in case there is an urge.  Currently, I have several books that I have started and not finished.  Some books, I got bored with and some I got close to the end and got out of it what I needed and that was it.  Maybe the internet has affected me in that I will start a couple different books and read them simultaneously when I do read a book.  Mostly, I search online about what I want to know, keeping in mind to get my information from reputable sources.

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In the documentary, “Out of Print,” (2013) Professor Wesch mentions that “we have to start questioning what a book is because they will cease to exist in large part.”  There are now several ways to access the same book.  How does that change the significance of publishing?  When digitizing becomes standard, what will we consider the equivalent to writing a book?  Meryl Streep asks, “If books are the foundation of society, how does that change the world of ideas and how does that change us”?

I think we are evolving just as we have evolved from using papyrus scrolls and just like we have moved from typewriters to PC’s. I found it interesting that according to our text, Project Gutenberg, the oldest digital library existed three years before the Internet went live.(Ch. 3.6, Digitizing Libraries) Did they already anticipate what is happening now?  Overall, I am split on whether digitizing libraries is the best route to take.  I think that I will find myself looking to the internet for the answers to my questions and the research to support them.  Do you see yourself going to the library to access information for research or are you more comfortable using a digital library?