Beaming into the Library

I always look to Star Trek to see what might be coming down the road. So far we have communicators (flip phones), note-taking devices (tablets), medical scanners (add-ons for tablets and other devices), blue-tooth headsets (Uhura's earpiece.) Tricorders (Smart Phones.) We even have a start at food replicators (3D printers that print pizza). I eagerly await the transporter and have heard rumors that coast to coast travel in less than an hour is being proposed. Whew.

A piece of the Star Trek world has insinuated itself into our lives in the form of tablets and e-readers. I can still visualize the episode in which Captain Kirk clutches something that looks suspiciously like an iPad, circa 1966. So while this all may seem new the idea has been around for a long time.

These devices are having a great impact in libraries as the physical book collection shrinks and the virtual book collection grows. It is also having an impact on the average person as the technology shapes the availability of books, both print and electronic. It shows up in the demise of bookstores like Borders. Competition from huge vendors like Amazon played a part in that, but so did their inability to embrace the electronic side of reading. Office supply stores like Staples are ditching their office furniture areas that catered to desktop computers to expand their tablet and device areas for tools that can be used anywhere.

Tablets are a very common birthday and holiday gifts. Unlike using a book, there is a learning curve to using a tablet. For people, (usually the younger crowd) who grew up with computers, they are just another technological toy. For those of us who grew up with calculators or even slide rules they can be daunting. Even for the savvy there are challenges when trying to connect to some services.

One of the common uses of tablets is to read books. Buying these books can become expensive fast. Luckily there is an option of downloading them free from the library. Getting your device set up the first time can be a challenge. You will need to get a library card if you don't have one (Free!) and depending on your device there may be an app or two to install (also Free!.) We can help you with the setup. Give us a call and set up an appointment at http://www.medfieldlibrary.org/home/appointment/ . You can save some money, save some trees and and beam yourself into instant gratification.

By Mare Parker-O'Toole, Librarian