The NMC Horizon Report Summary 2017 Library Edition suggests that in the very near future we will be seeing “libraries adapting to accommodate new applications of technology for learning, research, and information”. For more information, visit USC’s Library and Information Science Online Degree Program. Recommended Reading: 4 Important Dates in the Evolution of Libraries; 4 Ways to Know You Were Meant to Be a Librarian Libraries also provide classes, training and activities for people of all ages. And libraries are likely to mark events like National Book Month, National Poetry Month, well-known authors' birthdays (William Shakespeare is April 23!) The PLPYD Initiative demonstrates that public libraries can provide an important developmental support to teens, especially those in low-income communities. Introduction. A school library exhibits positive impact on the academic achievement of the student. “In an increasingly digital world, we see the role of libraries as community and cultural centres at times undervalued, and underestimated” (Edwards, Rauseo & Unger 2013). Library - Library - The history of libraries: In earliest times there was no distinction between a record room (or archive) and a library, and in this sense libraries can be said to have existed for almost as long as records have been kept. The American public library is a model of what a community-run, not-for-profit, public service ought to and can look like. ; Reports that claim library usage is declining take no account of the number of libraries that have closed or the lack of investment (note 25% decrease in bookfund last year). Mrs Seymour said the digital age had left a knowledge gap in society. Libraries have been a feature of society for thousands of years. A public library is a library that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. When asked about the importance of public libraries to their community, at least nine in ten respondents (91%) say they considered the library either “very important” (63%) or “somewhat important” (28%) to their community as a whole. enters the library to the moment he leaves it…” (337) This reference to “follow the reader” sounds very similar to the ethnographic studies and observations that have become more prevalent in LIS user behavior research. However, the increase of technologically mediated life is perhaps the reason why public libraries are important institutions for bringing together communities and providing a safe place in which individuals can gather to interact, learn and explore. A public library is a non-profit institution, usually funded by public resources and the government for use by the public. They are storehouse of knowledge. With its books suited to the interests and aptitude of students of different age group, with its magazines, periodicals, news papers and with its calm and tranquil atmosphere it has a special call to the students who go there and quench their thirst for reading the material which cannot be provided to them in the class room. When libraries are adequately funded, people use them – see the record number of users at Hillingdon or any new library such as Portishead. Public libraries play an important role in their respective communities, and are fundamentally important informational, educational, cultural, and social institutions. The activity of reading helps building cultural identity and gives strength to citizens of the democratic society – dictators don’t like public libraries. Public libraries in the 21st century are as important and relevant as they were in any other period of time. Public libraries provide free access to information, technology, and safe places to be during out-of-school hours. However, the 9,057 number includes library systems which have multiple branch locations so the actual number of physical locations is considerably higher than 9,057. Libraries’ importance to the community as a whole. One of the major changes we expect to see in academic libraries is the use of new innovating technologies. According to Pew Internet and American Life surveys, 80 percent of Americans believe that "reference librarians" are a very important service in today's libraries. Issuing of books: Books are very expensive but they can be issued for a limited time from the library by the students to develop their understanding and enhance their skills sets on the required subjects. In your opinion, are public libraries still relevant and important today? One could argue that even the prehistoric drawings on cave walls were a means to pass on stories to future generations and preserve those for others to see. There were 9,057 public libraries in the US according to the 2016 Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Libraries Survey. Libraries help to develop reading habits. With these new elements in place, libraries of today may grow alongside technology and help educate the public in ways like never before. Libraries are informational and are very important in today’s world where a simple internet search can give you many results out of which not even a single may actually meet answer to your question. Taken together, this means that 54% of Americans have used a public library in the past year, down from 59% in 2012. The Importance of Libraries in Our Digital World. The importance of public spaces, whether a library or a gallery or a museum, is only now being truly understood. They are storehouse of knowledge. 517 words essay on the Importance of Library. The importance of library remains, not because it solely revolves around physical books which may or may not fade away, but because it ultimately revolves around people and their ideas. > "The only thing that you have to know is the location of the library" - Albert Einstein Library is a place where you not only gain Knowledge on various topics but it also preserve history and the real truth that is buried deep into time. Libraries are about more than just books nowadays. Public libraries have seamlessly adapted to support the format of information’s revolution from print to digital. Libraries are very important for the progress and development of a society. Libraries provide additional material that could be studied to gather more information and develop a new perspective on the topic. Librarians are still at the forefront of understanding information and research gathering and the education system is adapting to … In 1940, when making a case for local funding of public libraries, McDiarmid stated: Libraries are very important for the progress and development of a society. Libraries are important cornerstones of a healthy community. Most libraries offer regular children's programs that make stories come to life. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also civil servants.. Slipping out of digital reading therefore seems risky. Here are a few of the ways in which libraries … Besides, libraries, especially public libraries, should organise programmes of healthy recreation and entertainment like the performing arts, musical concerts, etc., 1.10 Library and Modern Society: The role of Library in Society: Library and society are inter-linked and inter-dependent with each others. Image Caption: Library of the old university in Copenhaan. Therefore, lending out books in a way that is relevant to people is an important tool for public libraries to fulfill their purpose. Throughout the world millions of dollars are being invested in buildings that invite people in, sometimes called urban living rooms, or “third spaces.” A first … The library occupies a very important place in school. Role of Public Libraries in Society Education. The Importance of Public Libraries in the 21st Century . As in previous surveys, Americans say that public libraries are important not only to themselves … This article explores the enduring importance of libraries and some of the intellectual property-related challenges they face. A public library is a non-profit library, which is maintained for public use and funded by the government or the public sources. Libraries give people the opportunity to find jobs, explore medical research, experience new ideas, get lost in wonderful stories, while at the same time providing a sense of place for gathering.