The definition of a library includes descriptions such as: a building or room containing a collections of books, periodicals, films and recorded music for people to read, borrow or refer to.
I cannot imagine what it must be like for the incoming first-year students at DU not to have a formidable library, but I know the lack of a true library on campus is strange for many returning students like myself.
A school without a functional library is strange enough, but the library we will have, one with little-to-no books, is stranger still. I remember the controversies of last year. A protest on the library lawn, held on a drizzling, grey, unbecoming day.
Tables were set up on Driscoll Bridge and outside of the dining halls, holding petition after petition to “Save the Library.” You can still see posters and stickers around campus, remnants of the fight for our books.
I am sure some truly did not care, but many cared quite deeply. Regretfully, I rarely went to the library last year. There was a study area on my floor, and I had the books I needed for classes.
The process of ordering a book is reportedly (by the library) easy, but one still cannot get the instant gratification of picking a book up off the shelf. It must be ordered, sent and picked up on a subsequent day.
Additionally, a school library comprised of primarily study space for students seems to go against the basic definition of a library.
There is something about being surrounded by books. Friends, adventures and information at the tip of your fingers, far more tangible than an article a few clicks away on your computer.
A book is not truly a book if it is digital, whether it be on the Internet, Kindle, iPad or other. There is something so special about the smell of a book, the memories associated with it, a few dog-eared pages, underlined passages to show it is well-worn and loved. A library with few books takes away access to such emotions.
I have heard the argument that since students rarely look things up in the books, often due to a lack of knowledge, the apparently obvious solution is to be rid of the books and replace them with more computers and study space.
Somehow, this seems contradictory to the goal of learning. I believe that if students do not know how to look up books, find a topic or figure out which shelf the book resides on, they should be taught to do so.
Perhaps the world is getting rid of books and replacing them with digital technology, but I for one believe that would be a sad day, and one I wish DU were not moving slowly towards.
