Virtual libraries are here to stay.
For me, it's mind-boggling to believe that the contents of The Long Room (see left) at Trinity College, in Dublin, Ireland, can be, or will very shortly be contained in an electronic reading device, aka a Kindle.
I've always believed that literacy is as essential to our survival as breathing, eating, drinking, etc. However, the aesthetic pleasures provided by physical books are being sacrificed in the name of public consumption. Standing in the middle of a library like the Long Room is not the same thing as scrolling through a list of e-books. I fear the impact of appreciation for the creative process, as well as the time spent by authors will be lost... or not, only time will tell.
The physicality of a book cannot be replaced by an electronic device. However, I'm all for increased access of literary work.
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