Recently I read an article by Will Sherman called “Are Librarians Totally Obsolete?” that was, in part, a response to another article by a librarian that predicted that libraries would soon be no more.

A subtitle of Sherman’s article is: 33 Reasons Why Libraries and Librarians are Still Extremely Important. It’s a very well-written list of reasons libraries (and librarians) are necessary. All the more so since the advent of the Internet. Another terrific feature of his article is that there are links to all kinds of articles throughout his list.

I encourage you to read, or at least skim, his list of 33 reasons. And if you skim it, I’m sure you’ll end up reading it thoroughly. :-)

Here is the conclusion of his article:

Society is not ready to abandon the library, and it probably won’t ever be. Libraries can adapt to social and technological changes, but they can’t be replaced. While libraries are distinct from the internet, librarians are the most suited professionals to guide scholars and citizens toward a better understanding of how to find valuable information online. Indeed, a lot of information is online. But a lot is still on paper. Instead of regarding libraries as obsolete, state and federal governments should increase funding for improved staffing and technology. Rather than lope blindly through the digital age, guided only by the corporate interests of web economics, society should foster a culture of guides and guideposts. Today, more than ever, libraries and librarians are extremely important for the preservation and improvement of our culture.