In April 2010, The American Library Association reported that public libraries have had a 17% increase in utilization since 2006. So, as a librarian I am always a bit perplexed when people inquire as to what my next career will be now that everyone has a home computer and eBook devices are all the rage. Libraries no longer matter, right?

Many households do have a computer, however patrons tell me that due to the economic climate they no longer subscribe to an internet service. People often tell me that they would rather come to the library where they can get assistance when they have a question about the validity of a source, require help accessing an online job application or unemployment forms, how to download the correct tax form, advice on the best way to sort different Excel columns, guidance on faxing something over the Internet, or an overview on one of the many digital photo sites. So much for home computers making libraries obsolete.

eBook devices have been highly overrated. For every one person who asks me about the pending doom for libraries thanks to new technologies proliferating the market I have ten people comment that they cannot afford an eBook reader, much less all the titles they would need to purchase for it. The majority of people primarily want a physical and tangible object that they can carry, that has a front cover and a back cover, pages to flip, a use for that special bookmark, or a book that can be read without adjusting for backlighting, font size, etc. Of course, even those patrons who swear by ‘old school’ books benefit from the occasional free downloadable audio books and e-readers available at the library – after all, it is rather taxing to take 20 hardcover books on vacation.

Tags: ebook readers, libraries