http://www.zencollegelife.com/2009/12/29/85-reasons-to-be-thankful-for-libr…
85 Reasons to be Thankful for Librarians
by jonathan on December 29, 2009
*1. *Librarians take care of libraries, which are still invaluable today.
*2.* Not all information is on the internet.
*3. *Older books still hold great cultural significance.
*4.* Libraries are still repositories for some of the most valuable works of
literature in the world.
*5.* Even with the internet, the library is still the best place to do
research.
*6. *Girls with glasses can still rock the “sexy librarian” look.
*7. *“Sexy Librarian” is still a popular costume at Halloween.
*8.* You can’t exactly find periodicals like The New England Journal of
Medicine in Barnes and Noble.
*9.* For that matter, looking at turn-of-the-century National Geographics is
still pretty entertaining.
*10.* Colleges need something to remodel every so often.
*11.* The library is still the best meeting spot for college students
working on group projects.
*12. *Libraries are where most colleges store some of their history (choir
CDs, videos of athletic matches, etc.).
*13.* A library is one of the few places people can have free internet
access.
*14. *This means some libraries even hold LAN parties during later hours.
*15. *Somebody has to help lazy people find what they want.
*16. *Even online collections of books usually connect directly to a
library.
*17. *“Librarian” is still a better career choice for spinsters over “School
Lunch Lady.”
*18.* Studies have shown libraries and librarians improve student test
scores.
*19.* They also have been shown to improve students’ individual learning
skills.
*20. *With their training in instructional design, librarians can help
teachers find resources for their curriculum.
*21. *Librarians also help teachers to use a variety of media in the
classroom.
*22.* Many libraries today offer enough DVDs to serve as a poor man’s
Netflix or Blockbuster.
*23.* Librarians often put together special programs to get children to read
early on.
*24. *While teaching children to use the library, librarians end up teaching
them valuable problem solving skills.
*25.* They also teach children to use multiple resources to form their own
original works.
*26.* If librarians were no longer around, kids wouldn’t understand the
opening scene from Ghostbusters.
*27.* Librarians know a lot about proper citation skills, as well as ethical
uses of information, in order to avoid plagiarism issues.
*28. *Libraries are still a cheaper place to make photocopies than FedEx
Kinko’s.
*29.* Despite the advances in computer technology, a human will still find
information better than a search engine.
*30.* Librarians can also find information better suited to the person who
needs it.
*31. *A library is much MUCH more well cataloged and organized than the
internet.
*32.* Libraries have much better quality control than the vast majority of
websites.
*33.* Who else is going to learn the Dewey Decimal System? You?
*34.* Seriously though, no one wants to learn the Dewey Decimal System.
*35.* For that matter, who else is going to show you how to use that
microfiche machine?
*36.* Experienced librarians often know exactly what resources students need
for particular courses.
*37.* Many libraries collaborate and offer book exchange programs, offering
users an almost limitless supply of books and media.
*38. *Librarians can help relieve some of the workload from teachers by
helping students to understand information better.
*39.* Some engineering teams have already explored the idea of a fully
digital library…and ended up designing a traditional library with some
advanced technology.
*40.* The copyright costs for digitizing all literature would be
astronomical without even factoring in distribution and storage.
*41.* Even without the costs, digitizing all books in existence would take
hundreds of years at the current rate.
*42. *The internet still mostly only holds information from the past 15 or
so years, compared with the hundreds of years of knowledge found in a
library.
*43. *Even though libraries themselves may be losing attendance, their
online archives and websites are still receiving plenty of visitors.
*44. *Despite the rising popularity of e-books, 80% of people surveyed say
they still prefer paper books.
*45. *The experience of reading an actual book is being preserved by
libraries.
*46.* Libraries provide one of the few places for anyone to find quiet area
to just read or study.
*47.* Sometimes, but not always, libraries have free coffee.
*48. *Sometimes there are even free snacks.
*49.* Unlike the internet, libraries are careful that the information they
contain is checked for usefulness before being included.
*50.* Also unlike the internet, libraries are much less influenced by
corporate interests.
*51. *They are also less likely to be manipulated by individuals, like
search engine optimizers.
*52.* Information on more specific topics can be much easier to find in
libraries.
*53.* Digital or not, a library still needs a human staff to run it.
*54. *The resources of a library are well indexed and will always deliver
reliable results (I.e. no “broken links”).
*55. *Many popular news publications still require subscriptions to view
their content online, but are still available for free at the library.
*56. *Libraries provide free and abundant knowledge to everyone (a privilege
people didn’t always have).
*57. *Not everyone can afford books, but everyone has access to the library.
*58.* Someone has to buy all those books that college professors write.
*59. *Public bathrooms in libraries are usually cleaner than most places.
*60.* A library can mold itself for the specific community it’s in, whereas
websites usually try to bring in everyone.
*61.* At libraries, you can take practice qualifying tests for almost any
profession.
*62.* You can always make suggestions to librarians for specific books you’d
like to see.
*63.* Many libraries also display original works of art or even have
separate galleries.
*64. *Some libraries also hold a limited number of free museum passes that
anyone can use.
*65.* If you don’t have a computer, you can always use the ones in the
library.
*66.* The same goes for certain premium software and special databases.
*67.* If your library offers wi-fi, it’s probably free.
*68. *Several libraries also offer programs that cater to senior citizens.
*69.* Believe it or not, studies show that libraries are good for their
local economy, since they make their community for attractive to potential
businesses and individuals.
*70.* Libraries are still a cornerstone for free speech and open access to
information.
*71.* When dictators like Hitler and Mao Zedong set out to eliminate a
country’s culture or history, they started by shutting down the public
libraries.
*72.* A library still provides a neutral environment for the free exchange
of ideas.
*73. *Public libraries are surprisingly cheap to maintain, but benefit
everyone in the community.
*74.* If you’re a comic book lover, you can probably find plenty at your
local library.
*75. *They might even have some of those expensive indie graphic novels
available.
*76. *We’re still an incredibly long ways away from a paperless world.
*77.* You might as well use the library, since you’re already paying for it
through taxes or tuition.
*78.* There’s less risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome from reading
books.
*79. *A library is a great excuse to get out of the house (seriously, why
would anyone argue with you about it?).
*80.* Books are very portable and never need recharging.
*81.* With the economy these days, going to the library is a great source of
free entertainment.
*82. *You can “try before you buy” any number of books without spending a
dime.
*83.* Some libraries even have bookmobiles or mailing programs that deliver
books right to you.
*84. *Studies have repeatedly shown that reading improves your basic
vocabulary and just generally makes you smarter.
*85. *Regardless of what form a library takes, a librarian will always be
ready to guide you to the information you need.
--
June Samaras
KALAMOS BOOKS
(For Books about Greece)
2020 Old Station Rd
Streetsville,Ontario
Canada L5M 2V1
Tel : 905-542-1877
E-mail : kalamosbooks(a)gmail.com
www.kalamosbooks.com