The Future Of Traditional Libraries, The Bible, And The Church

After substituting for over 13 years in the various libraries of our county's largest school district, I have often wondered what will happen to our school libraries when digital e-books become popular. According to this article, not only are e-books gaining in popularity, but digital libraries will have a place in future societies. However, in the above author's view, libraries will always be a place to go for an environment that promotes "peace and quiet", and a place to "read and think" without interruption.

In the comments section of the above article, I totally agree with the comments provided by Joan Conroy, when she states:

"Having worked for about a decade in a public library prior to the electronic age, I can attest to the fact that the notion of a quiet temple where one can read and think no longer exists. I enjoy the internet as much as anyone and I see great value in computers and other forms of technology, but they are only tools as are e-books. How libraries and the publishing industry will work this all out is anyone's guess, but I for one, miss the days when upon entering a library, one was greeted by a kind of peace and silence which fed the spirit as well as the mind. We are in deep danger of losing what few quiet places remain in this otherwise noisy world and that to me is a rather disturbing thought."

Ms. Conroy, it's "a rather disturbing thought" to me as well.

When I look at our country's first all-digital library (see here, here, here and here), my questions are these: (1) Will an all-digital library promote a deeper study of the greatest Book ever written? (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) and (2) Will an all-digital library and technology driven society bring members of the Lord's church closer "together" as a community of believers (Acts 2:44), or further apart? (Here and here are interesting views regarding the present digital age that we live in).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets