Will physical libraries survive? Historian says internet not a threat Books | Entertainment

Historians Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen predict in their article Library. Fragile Stories What “Physical libraries will survive the internet, and librarians will not be replaced by algorithms.”

In an interview Efeithe British Pettegris gave a “clearer” example to demonstrate what happened in this paper Written media, “can be read digitally today, but paper media has not disappeared.”

The transition from parchment to printed books “was revolutionary, too, and there was fear, but people became more literate,” Pettegri recalls. The Internet will not lead to the death of books because people will continue to buy physical copiesit is hard to imagine a future library without books.”

In his opinion, purely experimental digital libraries are not feasible, and public libraries also have social functions.

Pettegree and Der Weduwen, from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, had previously written about book culture, and through that experience they saw the importance and role that private libraries have played throughout history.

of There are 2.6 million institutional libraries in the world, of which only about 404,000 are public libraries. According to the Dutch newspaper Der Weduwen, this refutes the common belief that most books are in the hands of the public.

To trace this story, the authors consulted more than 300 libraries and archives, institutional collections, churches, schools, and university libraries—all different ways of making books available to readers.

Initially, libraries were “spaces for enlightened people, for scholars, but Over time, the content of the books has changed and become more relevant to the general public.” When the printing press arrived in 1450, the cost of producing books became cheap enough that scholars, priests, lawyers, or doctors could join the collecting community.

The author goes on to say that the printing press meant that all levels of society could read. 18th-19th centuries, though they warn: “Paradoxically, it took 400 years from the invention of the printing press until the first public library law was approved and social awareness of its importance was established in society.”

Pettegri claims that both democratic and totalitarian states have used books as part of their war efforts, and now they too face censorship in American school libraries.

According to the author, Fire is a major threat to all libraries. Because most historic buildings are made of stone and wood. However, “over the years, moisture, dust, moths and booklice have caused far more damage than deliberate vandalism,” Der Weduwen comments. (six)