It's no secret how important technology has become to our everyday lives. It seems like everyone has a computer, cell phone and digital cable. Our society wants immediate access to everything. Libraries in an effort to keep up, have adopted technology to help them keep up. Instead of standing pat, like many people believe, many libraries are embracing technology. Having technology can keep patrons coming back.
In an introduction to Library Sciences book, Foundations of Library and Information Sciences, written by Richard Rubin, there are still many people who have little to no access to a computer or Internet. Libraries can offer this service free of charge, as long as they have a library card (which by the way is also free!). In a patron continues to come to the library to use the computers and Internet, it is only natural that they will want to explore other services the library has to offer.
Of course there are some disadvantages to this. Privacy is not always guaranteed, nor is an available computer. Some libraries do limit how long a patron can even be on that computer.
Despite that, having the ability to access free Internet, especially for those students who are in need of doing research but for whatever reason do not have a computer (much less Internet), patrons will want to come back and want to support the library. Going to the library to use the computers for research also has the added benefit of already being at the library in case the patron wants to see the physical source.
Technology surprisingly may be what saves libraries, even though many people believe it is easier to research everything they need at home. Remember, not everyone has that luxury. It's important for libraries to recognize this and use new technology to their advantage to lure those who need it to the library.
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