The Chronicle: Colloquy: The question

THE QUESTION

A number of colleges and universities are redesigning their libraries or building new libraries with decidedly less emphasis on books. In some of the designs, most books will be located in other facilities or in storage areas, while the emphasis in the libraries that students will use will be on computer technology, study lounges, and group-learning areas. Some educators believe that the changes are necessary to reflect the way students learn today. But others believe that the book is being needlessly devalued and that libraries are being too quick to de-emphasize the printed word. Should college libraries be redesigned to place less emphasis on books?

For further information, see this background article:

Do Libraries Really Need Books? (7/12/2002)

: 43 RESPONSES (New 8/6)

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