When was the last time you flipped through a book’s pages, just to listen to the crinkle of the front and back covers? When was the last time you went to a library and voluntarily opened a book of your own choosing? The Internet doesn’t crinkle. Nor does it have a distinct smell that tells you just how old it is. In fact, the Internet has no character at all. Sure, it enables you to find nearly everything under the sun in just a few seconds. But then the satisfaction of discovery goes out the window. Instead of scouring around for an hour, trekking to find the answer to a pressing question, you are immediately presented with the answer: voilà! There is no chance of getting the personal gratification that comes with sticking with a topic and pursuing it to the point of completion. You don’t get very much of “huzzah! I found it!” with a simple Google search.
The Internet has taken over our lives. No longer does anyone, especially teenagers growing up amongst this new technological change, need to go to a library to use computers or books for research. That’s why if you do find yourself deigning to step inside of a local library, you’ll find a majority of patrons from the higher end of the age spectrum. But understand that this is all just one vicious spiraling cycle of library decline. If people choose to stay at home and do research solely via their own computer, sans any outside reference books or research materials from print sources, then they won’t go to the library. Those people, the ones staying home, that’s you, younger teenage generation. The younglings are the ones most readily accepting all the new gadgets and gizmos .
Those of older generations, are the ones left still going to libraries and reading books like they did 20 years ago. There may be a few stray little kids roaming around, but even their generation is being skewed toward a preference of technology, with Promethean boards in schools and eight-year-olds being given cell phones.
But libraries have a lot to offer to engage the mind intellectually. At home, doing research of any kind goes without the help of anyone else. You’re on your own. At a library, librarians are readily available to help you find what you’re looking for. The library also carries new magazines, music and books that you can simply borrow for a couple of weeks without having to actually pay anything (provided that you return them on time). Instead of just going to a book store to buy a book, just rent it for a little while.
Research has shown that one of the more serious side effects of increased Internet use is severe attention deficit issues. Coming home from a long day at school, with hours of homework to complete, students end up wasting away hours in front of the computer. Library quiet rooms provide safe and productive outlets for anyone who needs few solid hours of focusing to complete a ton of work or study for an exam without any distractions.
Consider visiting a library the next time you need to get some work done. Even if picking up a book seems bothersome and boring, it could give you the peace of mind of knowing that you actually worked to find your answer.
