Kris Dominic
Ms. Lozinski
AP Language & Composition
24 January 2023
The Continuation of Libraries
As time progresses, technologies like the internet sprout and evolve, changing the ways of society. One of these changes is the role of libraries in communities. For centuries, libraries were sacred areas filled with knowledge and culture. Now, many debate the point of their existence. When discussing the uncertain role that libraries will play in the future, America’s rich democratic history, the unification of society, and education for marginalized communities are crucial to consider because, though the internet is becoming an efficient method of accessing information, libraries still hold an important position in current and future societies.
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Behind being hubs for education, this is their secondary purpose. Many libraries across the world use their facilities to host a wide variety of events to unite many. This is illustrated by an Illinois public library’s calendar of events, which displays a filled and busy schedule with a wide variety of affairs. Each day, the library can often host multiple completely different events, ranging from exercise to “Family Storytime” (calendar). In this case, libraries catalyzing to bring a diverse population together is undeniable. Without them, it would be extremely difficult, or even impossible, to unite a community with varying demographics in such a simple way. So, many communities still use libraries as a center for their affairs, illustrating the need for their continuation. To continue, libraries also serve an essential role in preserving relationships between family members and friends. An observational study conducted in 2012 recorded the percentage of Americans who read e-books and print books in the past year. The results indicated that the proportion of people who preferred print books was much higher than that of those who preferred e-books for social scenarios like reading with a child or sharing books (charts). The graph supports the idea that libraries, one of the largest providers of print books for the public, help contribute to strengthening …show more content…
Many, like M. G. Siegler from TechCrunch, believe that libraries are becoming increasingly ancient and unnecessary as the internet can do what the library is supposed to, but better (Siegler). Even though the internet does provide another means for efficiently accessing information, Siegler and many others fail to recognize that many, even in today’s technological era, still lack internet access or even an electronic device at home. For instance, a significant proportion of modern adults reported that they could only access computers or the internet at libraries, meaning that many do not have proper sources of reliable information. Many of these people belong to minority groups like rural Americans and the unemployed (Shank). The large population of those without access to devices or the internet refutes the idea that libraries will become obsolete, as to give them anything of educational value, a library would be required. So, even though the internet supplies the modern world with an alternative manner of gathering knowledge since many in certain communities cannot access it, libraries still need to be in place in the future to give those communities their right to