Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Changed but Still Critical: Brick and Mortar School Libraries in the Digital Age

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community
Are brick and mortar school libraries still relevant in the digital age? I don't think so - unless it's a place where you can recharge your e-reader and maybe work out on the Wii. Doug Johnson, though, thinks that libraries are a little more relevant than that. "I would argue that the best school libraries are not just surviving, but thriving, in this new digital information environment – but not without seriously re-purposing their physical spaces." He cites three major ways in this two part (part one, part two) article: as social learning spaces, as multi-media production and presentation spaces, and as teaching spaces. Well - that kind of makes my point. None of these are uses we would typically associate with a library. What about the books? He writes, "Books will be available in multiple formats for a very long time. Print, audio and digital will continue to co-exist quite nicely much as radio, television and the Internet does now." You think? I don't.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
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Last Updated: Nov 21, 2024 8:40 p.m.

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