Researching the Future of Libraries

 Matt Maeda

A look at our modern Librarians.

It seems the only thing the young Librarians say they wait for seems to be the ALA Conference or a Library Conference in general as a chance to sociallize. As I took a look at YouTube which I know is not the best source, but it showed me videos of what this conference looked like. As I saw footage it seemed as if people were trying to make library products as in more books rather then focus on the library themselves. They seem more then aware of the decline in our public libraries and are assertive in the voice of the public and outreach economic return etc of what libraries do, but it still doesnt seem like enough. Throughout my life and today still I have no drive to want to go to my local library.

Google had an interesting booth which talked about Technology and the Web and it made me wonder why things have not all turned into E-Books by now.

Many people blogged about different aspects which I didnt see much or hear about much while browsing the Vlogs about the ALA Conference or any other library conference... it was really weird to me. Some of these were the common things I was thinking myself. I grew up with computers, internet, and all that jazz. Not many people read these days... its sort of like a special skill. Heck I read Comics and Manga...people still think it takes too much work. Its no wonder that even books with pictures like Magazines are losing their readers.

Youtube the very place I went to get info before going to the search engine of Google. It made me think... why did I go here first... Im lazy... everything is on video... so why read it... why type it...i then laughed... people may use Videos as a way to get interested, then move on to a Article with Pictures... then possibly a Podcast... and then lastly if they really are into what they had already seen, read, and heard... they might just go and read a book. That process sure is alot longer then it use to be right?

That alone would be enough to know why people are using less of the library... but there needs to be more of a community voice because many people are trying to not stay indoors. Information and Knowledge must be incorporated to a more go out and do aspect in life. A voice of a library might just give it some communication leverage, and that means possible political power.

Anyways I could rant alot more about this stuff since i studied it all day, but I figure I will put a plan in action to see how Libraries need to be updated. Until then... Ciao