The moment I saw this question, the only thing that came to my mind was this: "Who needs libraries when we can get anything we want on the Internet?" The advancement of technology has made things very easy for us, thereby bringing any information we need to our doorstep without stress.
I can remember back then in school when my smartphone got stolen; normally, I saved every school material on my phone, but when I lost my phone, it felt like I'd lost school materials as well. The only place I could find materials that would help me study for my exams was the "library." At that period of my life, I visited the library often to get knowledge and prepare for my forthcoming exams.
When I finally got a new phone, it felt like I broke up with the library, thereby saying my goodbyes, because after that day, I can't remember going to the library to study. After all, for every piece of information that I need, my phone is reliable and capable of providing it, so I depended more on my smartphone.
In this digital age, we have found that people rarely visit libraries. Currently, I don't know if libraries still exist, "maybe in schools," which is mandatory that every school must have a library; aside from that, I don't know any other place I can find a library.
Libraries play an important role in society in sharing and receiving knowledge in this digital world where the significant need for libraries has dropped to the least level. Does it mean libraries aren't needed anymore? Libraries are needed and will always be needed. I know we believe every piece of information can be found in the online space. "I'm not here to argue that." How about those who don't have a smartphone? How do they acquire certain knowledge they are looking for?.
Just like the time I lost my phone, I couldn't go to my friends and hire a phone from them for some days because they'd need one as well, now the only option I had was the "library" the libraries provide free, open and accessible public spaces for people to read, work, study and lastly socialize with others. This role can't be easily taken over despite the opponent factor we have now.
Currently, we have libraries that use E-books and digital media storage to increase the number of books they can lend out, . So certain libraries have implemented some online skills that will still make them relevant in the digital world.
If we say the resources used in maintaining and upgrading libraries be taken to other sectors instead, what sector do we have in mind? And mind you, in a country like mine where everything is being regulated by the government, giving out the resources to another sector is gonna create room for more corruption where the government is gonna look at it as a profit-making avenue.
With the mindset I've developed today, I don't think I would want the government to oversee anything. I would prefer an individual or a private entity controlling certain sectors in the nation, but then that isn't possible.
The resources used in libraries shouldn't be given or taken to any sector; libraries should continue to operate whether in the digital age or not; these libraries have been there for ages, and they hold a lot of memories for certain people.
Thanks for reading 🧡
