Cushing Academy, located in Ashburnham, M.A., just finished an overhaul renovation of their library that consisted of removing all of the library's books "in favor of going digital." This move from print to entirely digital is believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S.
Instead of a circulation desk, book shelves, and study carrels, Cushing's library now features a cafe, easy chairs, and flat screen televisions. According to Cushing's Dean of Academics, the switch to digital is a result of surveys that were conducted by the school, which showed that students "weren't turning to printed materials for research; instead, they were immediately going online." Although some of Cushing's students are in favor of the new renovations, others are less enthusiastic.
Will other academic libraries follow Cushing's example? Only time will tell.
Read the full article "Digital School Library Leaves Book Stacks Behind" by Tina Antolini at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120097876.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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