In the article, "Libraries as Spaces Between Us Recognizing and Valuing the Third Space", there is a constant argument on the point "The digital world is replacing the libraries." which goes on throughout the reading. The author points out the oncoming outdating of the libraries and their way of working. They need to change and adapt themselves in a variety of ways.
With the advancements in the technologies, there has been a great change in the way people now prefer to read or refer books. Also, as the pandemic hit, everything went online and is still, and will also be in future to some extent. With that being said, it is true to some point that people are now going online rather than being offline and going to a physical space to read, or I should say a "Library." Not only the pandemic, but also the intervention of technology has impacted the library's functioning. Believe it or not, technology is controlling the workspace of libraries, like keeping the record of the books and the people who issued them. To keep all the records, technology us needed. Now, physical libraries are set according to the computer system and the database to keep the track of all the books and materials. Just to find a book, people now use the database instead of looking for the books by themselves in the bookshelves. To keep up in today's world, libraries need to be advanced and make customers fell welcomed and valued. Also, the libraries need to compete with different platforms, be it physical platform or a virtual platform.
It not only narrows down to the platforms or the technologies, what also matters is the customer satisfaction. They (libraries) have to strive to keep up to the needs and interests of everyone- kids, teens, adult.
Because of the intervention of technologies, it's gonna be difficult for us to justify libraries as a physical space. Instead, libraries can be considered as a "Third Space" because of the characteristics of the libraries of being quiet, having long hours, has low stress level within it, is interactive, meeting likeminded people, enjoying one's time.
Until and unless, both libraries and technology work together without any fail, both will have some drawbacks. Also, without a proper combination of both, it will be difficult to meet all the requirements like keeping in mind all the interests of people and providing them a proper environment and facility.
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