Modern versus Bygone Libraries (house, office, price, victorian)

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by otterhere

Our library has events featuring little projects for adults to do constantly. Crafty things. And a big table with Legos in the children's area. It seems to be about anything BUT reading books these days. But apparently they have to lure people in, or they'll go out of business, and if people don't read anymore, you gotta do what you gotta do! I'd just rather have my own little side cubicle for using my laptop there versus having to sit around a big circle with the homeless population, some of whom are "off their meds"...

How many branch libraries are there in your city? Have you checked any of them out? You may find some that don't have homeless patrons (or rambunctious kids), and that have a big computer section where everyone works at separate tables.

Oops, I just read your post, saying your town only has one library, and abandoned the old one. What happened to that building, then? Why not keep both? A funding issue? That's a shame. What a waste of what I assume is an elegant old building. They could have kept it as a location for people doing serious reading, research, and so on. They could have had events for kids once/week, like a story time.

[otterhere]

It's sitting empty, like a lot of other elegant old buildings in town, including churches who have built bigger, modern "auditoriums" in the suburbs. Very sad!

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by otterhere

It's sitting empty, like a lot of other elegant old buildings in town, including churches who have built bigger, modern "auditoriums" in the suburbs. Very sad!

I don't know how big a population your town has. I wonder if people like yourself could petition City Hall to re-open the old library for people who want a quiet zone for reading, perhaps a few computers and a study-carrel area where people could bring their laptops, occasional kiddie events to increase patronage, and so on. It wouldn't even require much staffing, probably, because it would be mostly for quiet adults.

Maybe it could be partially financed by book donations that could be used for book sale events. People are always looking for places to offload their old book collections to, estates needing to get rid of the deceased's private library, and so on. People downsizing to move into an apartment or eldercare facility for retirement, etc. I've seen libraries organize events like this as fund-raisers.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Today's libraries do exactly what was intended of a library, plus other forms of media (they are no longer beacons of architectural wonder). And since they are supported by tax-payer dollars, those that are responsible for spending those dollars should pursue that spending as conservatively as possible.

Which means maintaining older, antiqued building are not being fiscally responsible. And trying to retro older buildings is usually more expensive than building new. Don't get me wrong- I admire old architecture. But, trying to climate-control soaring vaulted ceilings, maximizing insulation values, and over-demand for electrical equipment is just a disaster waiting to happen.

With such fast growing electronic media and the push for more and more internet accessibility, I see libraries becoming dinosaurs. Soon, everyone will have access to the Library of Congress electronically, for free, on their "PCD"(Personal Communication Device- cell phone).

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr

Today's libraries do exactly what was intended of a library, plus other forms of media (they are no longer beacons of architectural wonder). And since they are supported by tax-payer dollars, those that are responsible for spending those dollars should pursue that spending as conservatively as possible.

Which means maintaining older, antiqued building are not being fiscally responsible. And trying to retro older buildings is usually more expensive than building new. Don't get me wrong- I admire old architecture. But, trying to climate-control soaring vaulted ceilings, maximizing insulation values, and over-demand for electrical equipment is just a disaster waiting to happen.

With such fast growing electronic media and the push for more and more internet accessibility, I see libraries becoming dinosaurs. Soon, everyone will have access to the Library of Congress electronically, for free, on their "PCD"(Personal Communication Device- cell phone).

But new libraries have very high ceilings, too. And "everyone" won't have phones; there will still be people who can't afford a cell phone and cell phone account.

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr

Today's libraries do exactly what was intended of a library, plus other forms of media (they are no longer beacons of architectural wonder). And since they are supported by tax-payer dollars, those that are responsible for spending those dollars should pursue that spending as conservatively as possible.

Which means maintaining older, antiqued building are not being fiscally responsible. And trying to retro older buildings is usually more expensive than building new. Don't get me wrong- I admire old architecture. But, trying to climate-control soaring vaulted ceilings, maximizing insulation values, and over-demand for electrical equipment is just a disaster waiting to happen.

With such fast growing electronic media and the push for more and more internet accessibility, I see libraries becoming dinosaurs. Soon, everyone will have access to the Library of Congress electronically, for free, on their "PCD"(Personal Communication Device- cell phone).

I think there is a real difference between small local libraries, which are increasingly becoming community hubs, and larger central libraries or libraries of national significance, which are often referred to as legal deposit libraries.

There are far more security and information held at larger Central Libraries and National Libraries, and there is also better security and far more quiet reading areas and rooms, whilst they are often impressive and grand in terms of architecture.

The same is also true of academic libraries specialist libraries and private members libraries.

[MidValleyDad]

Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr

Today's libraries do exactly what was intended of a library, plus other forms of media (they are no longer beacons of architectural wonder). And since they are supported by tax-payer dollars, those that are responsible for spending those dollars should pursue that spending as conservatively as possible.

Which means maintaining older, antiqued building are not being fiscally responsible. And trying to retro older buildings is usually more expensive than building new. Don't get me wrong- I admire old architecture. But, trying to climate-control soaring vaulted ceilings, maximizing insulation values, and over-demand for electrical equipment is just a disaster waiting to happen.

With such fast growing electronic media and the push for more and more internet accessibility, I see libraries becoming dinosaurs. Soon, everyone will have access to the Library of Congress electronically, for free, on their "PCD"(Personal Communication Device- cell phone).

Everyone will have access to the LoC electronically for free? Not on your life. The Media industry will prevent it. Even now with the electronic books that do exist there are a limited number of checkouts allowed before the book 'expires' and has to be re purchased or re licensed by the library. (It used to be 25 'checkouts' but that may have changed) And many books that don't hit best seller status never get put on e-media (especially academically oriented Social Science, Engineering or History books). There isn't the perceived demand for them and many publishing houses feel that putting it out electronically will lead to it being bootlegged which will scavenge sales from the legal copies.


I like e-books but even if you 'buy' it you don't really own it. You can't give it to someone else and there is no used e-book market where you can even get a fraction of the original cost back when you are done. This is especially true if you read on the device promoted by the 800 lb gorilla in the e-book market who very tightly controls their format.

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

Everyone will have access to the LoC electronically for free? Not on your life. The Media industry will prevent it. Even now with the electronic books that do exist there are a limited number of checkouts allowed before the book 'expires' and has to be re purchased or re licensed by the library. (It used to be 25 'checkouts' but that may have changed) And many books that don't hit best seller status never get put on e-media (especially academically oriented Social Science, Engineering or History books). There isn't the perceived demand for them and many publishing houses feel that putting it out electronically will lead to it being bootlegged which will scavenge sales from the legal copies.


I like e-books but even if you 'buy' it you don't really own it. You can't give it to someone else and there is no used e-book market where you can even get a fraction of the original cost back when you are done. This is especially true if you read on the device promoted by the 800 lb gorilla in the e-book market who very tightly controls their format.

I agree - you just need to look at how public records and national archives are dealt with on-line, and the fact that ancestry and record sites now cash in on the system.

This may well be replicated in terms of on-line library content.

In terms of libraries, they are indeed changing and this is especially true at the local level, where they are now increasingly becoming community hubs, with coffee and all kinds of local amenities.

[Brave New World]

In terms of architecture, the Temple Works in Leeds, England, is set to become the home of a planned Northern branch of the British Library, which has the libraries main storage facility at Boston Spa within easy reach.

Transforming Boston Spa - British Library

Major step closer to British Library site at Temple Works in Leeds - British Library

Transforming our St Pancras site - British Library

The Temple Works was home to the largest single room in the world when completed in 1838.

As well as the British Library there are five other legal legal deposit libraries in Britain & Ireland -

National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh

National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

Bodleian Library, Oxford

Cambridge University Library

Trinity College, Dublin

[otterhere]

Nothing will ever replace actual books for me, but you probably gathered that from my position on libraries...