Debate: Should libraries still carry print encyclopedias or are they a waste of space?

I keep seeing this argument pop up in library circles and wanted to get some real opinions. On one hand, our library has a full set of World Book from 2019 that barely gets touched maybe 5 times a month. On the other hand, I had a patron last Tuesday who refused to use any online source because she doesn't trust the internet for school projects. So which is it: are we holding onto outdated paper just for nostalgia, or is there still a valid reason to have them on the shelf? I'm leaning toward keeping a single set for people like that patron, but our director wants to pull them to free up room for more computers. What do you all do at your libraries?

2 comments

2 Comments

faithj106d ago

At our library in Springfield we compromised and kept one set of the 2022 Britannica on a low shelf near the kids section. It gets used maybe 12 times a month, mostly by older folks and parents who want their kids to practice with physical books. I was skeptical at first but I honestly think it's worth it for those few patrons who really hate screens or don't have internet at home. We moved the other reference shelves out and put in two extra computers, so it's a balance. Plus it's kinda nice having something that doesn't need a login or a charger lol.

patricia_chen676d agoMost Upvoted

Oh wow, that reminds me so much of something that happened at my local library last year. @faithj10 you're spot on about that balance thing. There was this one older gentleman who came in every Tuesday without fail, and he would sit with the 2020 Britannica set for hours, taking notes in a little spiral notebook. He told me he didn't have internet at home and just liked how the pages felt. I think we forget sometimes that a physical book can be a comfort thing, not just about the information inside. It's funny how something as simple as a paper encyclopedia can still bring people together like that.