{"items": [{"author": "John", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/100633726263571579985", "anchor": "gp-1326903823545", "service": "gp", "text": "I believe that well run libraries are here to stay. Since the newly renovated Cambridge library opened the number of people going to it went way up; circulation went way up; remote reservations of books went up and this has continued since it opened several years ago. They have lots of programs that draw people there. The 8 or so library catalog systems in Mass that facilitate interlibrary loans really help enrich the collection without each library having to maintain copies of infrequently requested books.", "timestamp": 1326903823}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/285217051535453?comment_id=285298548193970", "anchor": "fb-285298548193970", "service": "fb", "text": "After the Season II Episode I of \"Downton Abbey\" (PBS Masterpiece), I started watching \"Upstairs, Downstairs\" on Netflix. Turns out the (unpleasant persons) at Netflix stream _only_ the first season. Hmmm. Turns out that Amazon has disks of all five seasons for $118. Hmmm. So one of my local libraries loaned me DVD's of season II through season V. For free. Love that library!
Hard copy books are still the easiest, highest contrast means to absorb text -- not counting the pain of hauling it around. But obviously, there are other content forms and services that we all utilize and libraries provide.", "timestamp": "1326907065"}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/106120852580068301475", "anchor": "gp-1326916662328", "service": "gp", "text": "Tangentially: Are ebook readers going to get so cheap that libraries can afford to lend them out, or that very low-income people can afford them?", "timestamp": 1326916662}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1326917433397", "service": "gp", "text": "@David Chudzicki\n Libraries are already lending them. I also think they're going to be very cheap.", "timestamp": 1326917433}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/106120852580068301475", "anchor": "gp-1326917614135", "service": "gp", "text": "That's good!", "timestamp": 1326917614}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/106120852580068301475", "anchor": "gp-1326920320470", "service": "gp", "text": "Probably librarians would say there's still a role for them in helping people get to what they need, right?\n
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\nI think librarians now do a lot more than watch over the paper books.", "timestamp": 1326920320}, {"author": "Allison", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103741579182942078941", "anchor": "gp-1326982989535", "service": "gp", "text": "I think some forms of paper books will remain, possibly permanently: children's books (especially the ones with touch-type stuff for really young kids, but also just picture books), and art and other oversized books.\n
\nOne of the biggest problems transitioning to a all-digital book world is that people and libraries already have a lot of paper books. New stuff will certainly bought at the cheapest (most likely e-book) price, but I don't want to re-buy everything that I already own.", "timestamp": 1326982989}, {"author": "Gianna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/285217051535453?comment_id=285938944796597", "anchor": "fb-285938944796597", "service": "fb", "text": "Libraries also seem to serve an important community function for families with young children (storytime, various groups, etc.)", "timestamp": "1326987901"}, {"author": "Todd", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/112947709146257842066", "anchor": "gp-1327133102504", "service": "gp", "text": "@Allison\n \"New stuff will certainly bought at the cheapest (most likely e-book) price, but I don't want to re-buy everything that I already own.\"\n
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\nThat issue hasn't really saved records or cassette tapes (they still exist but are very marginalized). Books are a lot more entrenched, admittedly.", "timestamp": 1327133102}, {"author": "David Chudzicki", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/106120852580068301475", "anchor": "gp-1327174305849", "service": "gp", "text": "...and records have the disadvantage of needing record players. Books can die more gradually.", "timestamp": 1327174305}]}