Libraries and Their Importance in Society Libraries and Their Importance in Society Libraries play a very important role in society. It is both a system for cataloging information, particularly in regard to the history and culture of society, but they also provide people with free opportunities for learning through books, magazines, newspapers, and multimedia tools. Libraries, particularly the Library of Congress, are also responsible for housing and cataloging copyrighted material and patents. Without libraries, it would be difficult not only to track the growth and development of a society, but to provide free access to information. As society has grown, so has the role of the library. It's a place where people can check out books for free, use the internet, or hold a workshop. It is also the first place a child may delve into a book or spend a few hours roaming the book aisles. In this sense, libraries have always been synonymous with education. Although the educational benefit that libraries bring to communities is well known, some still wonder about the impact that libraries have. According to a study commissioned by the Indiana State Library, libraries add economic value to the community even after the costs of running the library are incorporated. According to the study, Indiana communities receive $2.38 in direct economic benefit for each dollar of cost. In Indiana, public library expenditures and salaries add $216 million to Indiana's economic activity. Academic libraries added another $112 million to the Indiana community. Despite the economic growth and education libraries can provide, libraries are having difficulty keeping the doors open. With the onset of new technology such as the iPad, and ebook readers, along with the lack of funding , it is difficult to continue to operate. According to the 2012 State of America's Libraries report,  American libraries are in trouble. Some of the contributing factors are the rapid growth of  ebooks and the publishers choice to  limit ebook lending. The publishers Macmillan Publishing, Hachette Book Group, and Simon and Schuster, for example, refuse to sell ebooks to libraries for lending purposes. Penguin refuses to let libraries purchase  its new titles for ebook lending altogether, and Harpercollins has imposed a 26 loans per ebook license on its ebooks. Random House, on the other hand, raised its ebook prices, making the books even more difficult to purchase, especially considering the library's budget cuts. In addition to the library's trouble acquiring ebooks , libraries are also continually subjected to budget cuts. The Library of Congress,for example, the US national library, lost nearly 10 percent of its workforce. School libraries faced dramatic budget cuts in 2011 after the Literacy Through School Library Program was cut, which was the only federally funded program solely for school libraries in the US. Nevertheless, academic libraries are also feeling the strain as they have to function with larger student enrollment numbers and less staff. Libraries have not been acknowledged for the other economic benefits they provide. Local libraries have been a haven for job-seekers and entrepreneurs according to a press release by the American Library Association. In a survey conducted with over 1,000 adults, two-thirds indicated that the library was helpful for starting a business or finding a job. Regardless of the library's benefits,  there is often the question of: do people really use the library? More than 60 percent of America's libraries report an increase in the use of computers and wi-fi. This is mainly because 62 percent of libraries are the only place that provide free internet and computer use. Nevertheless, a new phenomenon in libraries is now occurring. Local communities have taken their own initiative by starting "Little Free Libraries."  These are large boxes located in small community neighborhoods that are stocked with books provided by the neighbors. The concept is: take a book, leave a book. Perhaps, the future of libraries is in small communities and "down-sizing" the library approach. A Little Free Library Job-seekers, entrepreneurs continue to turn to their local library for help: State of America's Libraries Report 2011 The Economic Impact of Libraries: Report on Indiana Libaries U.S. Libraries Strive to Provide Innovative Technology Services Despite Budget Cuts Fact sheet about Public Library Use 2012 State of America's Libraries: A Report from the American Library Association Third of Queens Libraries Would Close Under 'Devastating' Budget Cuts; article explaining why Queens, NY libraries may have to close --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Source : -http://www.publicadministration.net/resources/libraries-and-their-importance-in-society/ Posted by Blogger :  Lbn.Rajashekhar Devarai Head - Resource Centre,  National Institute of Fashion Technology,  Plot No.15, Sector 4, Kharghar, NAVI MUMBAI - 410210. 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