Supporting ebooks Means You Want to Kill Bookstores (and Libraries?)

That, at least, is the suggestion in Mike Shatzkin's recent article, Why are you for killing bookstores? Shatzkin's article doesn't actually address the fate of libraries, but Tim Spalding of LibraryThing fame makes the connection in his (depressing) follow-up, Why are you for killing libraries.*

As a health sciences librarian, I see ebooks as realistic necessities in health care environments, and could thus be lumped under the ebook supporting, library killing umbrella. Of course, that type of literature is not the type of literature that bookstores typically sell and libraries typically lend, so that type of ebook adoption and usage is not, I'm sure, an indicator of book repository death. True. More or less.

But even speaking generally, I'm not sure we're talking about an either/or proposition here, that ebook adoption kills book repositories. Yes - the library-as-book-repository is probably dying and the ebook probably has a part in its demise. But, by no means does that mean that the library in general is dying. On the contrary, you could flip the argument around and say that "the proliferation of ebooks makes libraries more relevant 'cause it provides 'em with the flexibility to do modern stuff with their space."

To me, it's not so much the proliferation of ebooks that kills libraries, but the inability to adapt to the times that does.

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* For some discussion, take a look at the chat forum on LibraryThing as well.

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Exam time

I really enjoy teaching. I think it’s one of the most exciting aspects of academic librarianship, although it can occasionally be the most stressful as well (especially for new librarians). I see it as one of the best opportunities I have to interact with students and really get a sense of their information needs and use. In this age of electronic resources, where many of our users may no longer have a regular reason to enter the library (especially the health sciences library where I work), teaching often seems like the most substantial point of contact with students, even if it’s only for a one-shot session before they disappear into the wilderness for the rest of the term.

But then at the end of term, we come to Exam Time in the library: all those students who disappeared suddenly show up again, all at once, armed with laptops, notebooks, and enough food and drink to last for several days. Anyone who questions the value of “the library as place” in the 21st Century hasn't been to an academic library during exam time. Although students are always around throughout the term, there is no other time of year that it is so consistently full. Every desk, carrel, and seat is occupied; every empty space is filled (this year, students even tried occupying an empty staff office that was left open!). The entire building is full of nervous tension, as the seriousness of exams bears down.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Exam Time provides us with a different but equally valuable kind of interaction. There are no in-depth teaching or reference opportunities. There’s not even very much direct communication with most students in the building, beyond the occasional ‘hello’ or short conversation about their term. Instead, there is a recognition of the value of the shared space between us: the library staff are glad to provide a comfortable and productive place to study, and students show their appreciation by being extremely polite, tidy, and considerate (for the most part, anyways). For three weeks, the library becomes these students' home away from home, and to me they are the perfect houseguests: quiet, respectful, and never leaving a mess. We are lucky to have the wonderful and friendly students that we do.

So now, as exams wind down and the tension in the air dissipates, we all collectively begin to feel excitement for the holiday break and the chance to recharge our batteries for the next semester. So congratulations to all on another completed term! See you again in the New Year.

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