No one could forsee the impact of the world wide web. A virtual world has been created, and as more and more of our information is digitized, there is danger that the public will view the physical library as unnecessary.
In my mind, the library is unique in its dedication to people, and to the preservation of our first amendment rights. Even if all the world's information were digital, and our society paperless, we still need people helping people with information. We still need a watchdog for our first amendment rights. We are still tactile beings who need tactile experiences, and we will always have a need for open access to information and tools for all of our citizens or future citizens.
For the Library to survive in the future, I think it needs to command a central place in society, and expand its idea of information and service.
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