What has happened to libraries for information sources?

Question

I know that the internet is great for resources.The last project my daughter had to do required 50%computer and 50% books.Have libraries disappeared?

Pamela B My daughter is a frequent user of the library.not one person has ever mentioned using the library or books for info.We have a school and public library.Often book encyclopaedias offer more information than the internet for research.Teachers need to spend more time with kids helping them to research properly before kids use the ability to think. and use appropiate references. Our teachers were not too keen on kids using the internet too much.That is all.

Answer 1

Not every student has a computer or Internet access at home.

Libraries have been de-emphasized by some schools/teachers due to the "ease" of finding information online. However, the schools are not teaching how to verify information or how to know when a website is maintained by a legitimate, reputable source. Schools are not even teaching how to find information in books!

And before anyone claims I'm slandering teachers, my mom retired after 30+ years as a teacher, and my sister is in her 4th year as a teacher. I use my own experiences and the quality of teaching they provide to the students in their care. Sadly, many teachers never visit their local public libraries to see if students can find the answers to assignments in the collection.

Answer 2

Are you kidding? Where do you live? There must be a public library in your community. We are alive and kicking, fighting funding cutbacks and the Patriot Act. (Next time a bond levy comes up in your community, I hope you will support your local Library.)

Isn't there a Library in your daughter's school? I work in the Library of a public high school, and I assist students such as your daughter all day. Most teachers require just what you described. Information from the Internet is not always reliable (Wikipedia is one source I highly question.) But publishing houses employ fact-checkers and show sources right in the back of the book -- a good place to find out which title to check next, by the way.

One of my favorite days at work was the day all systems were down, and I had three classes in the Library, all doing research on different topics. The only search engine in the room was me, and the Dewey Decimal System -- which still works, by the way. I was like a locomotive with all my cars following me around the Library, as we made stops for art history (700s) religion and philosophy (200s) social issues (300s) and medical information, (600s) among others.

My children grew up visiting story hours at the public library and I fought my loneliness at 13 when we moved to a new town. I rode my bike to the local Library and put myself in the hands of the Librarian. She would never know how she helped me, and formed my love of not only the written word, but Libraries and the treasures they contain.

Answer 3

If you live close to a college or university, check out their library! Most college/university libraries are open to the public and give out community patron library cards. Aside from having larger book collections than most public libraries, college/university libraries also offer extensive periodical sections with scholarly journals. The people here are also more well-informed on good Internet research sites and can help you find relevant (and trustworthy) information on-line. Hope this helps! :)

Answer 4

If you are ever in Urbana, Illinois (home of the Univ. of Illinois), I invite you to our public library. It is an extravaganza. It's like the Sam's Clubs of libraries. They have reference librarians that can take you to the book containing the poem that you only remember one line of. Describe a plot to them and they'll tell you the book. The library has music CDs of old-timey musicians from the 20s and 30s, tapes on learning a foreign language, approx. 12,000 VHS and DVDs, educational materials for ESL, resources for the visually impaired, a huge childrens' library and one for young adults. It's beyond a doubt the best library I've ever been to and we are only a community of 35,000. If you didn't look at the building but just at the people going in and out, you'd think you were at a mall. No, darling, libraries have not disappeared. Thank God for libraries and librarians...

Answer 5

Actually it is very saddening to see that the new generations have forsaken reading as we know it....

... we used to consider going to the library an "event", something to look forward to, to search for books, sit at tables and inspect what we need, go back to where the books are and so on...

... I truly believe that using libraries should be encourages at schools and adopted as means of achievment assesment....

... schools and teachers must make it a necessity without which no student is entitled to his/her degrees (of course at different levels of deployment)....

.... a nation that does not read is not a nation at all.

Answer 6

i use my library its a great resource, as a general rule the larger towns /city will have a decent well stocked library, in the UK this is my second home, the one i use as a research facility. LF

Answer 7

When the black hats can look(better than you)and read your intentions.Libraries lost thier appeal