Earlier this semester, this newspaper announced the University’s plans to renovate Alderman Library over the next several years. This initiative, estimated to cost $120 million, would be the library’s first major renovation since its founding in 1938. Amidst significant electrical, mechanical and architectural work, the library will reconsider the role of print and electronic media. As these renovation plans continue to take shape and move forward, it’s important for us to keep track of the core of any traditional library — the books.
As my fellow columnist Conor Kelly noted in his September column, the renovations must preserve physical texts even as they increase the role of electronic media. In the final paragraph, Conor quotes University Librarian Karin Wittenborg, asserting that the “aura of gravitas” that comes from being surrounded by books lends some intrinsic value to Alderman library. Though Wittenborg is right about a sense of gravitas, this aura is a far cry from “intrinsic value.” It’s appreciating books for the cultural capital they symbolize rather than for the books themselves. If we’re keeping and appreciating books in Alderman library, let’s make sure it’s for the right reasons.
First, a few numbers. Like many major university library systems existing today, the University’s began as an all-print collection and has gradually moved into a more digitally-oriented model. We now have what the technical literature calls a “hybrid library” system, in which electronic and paper-based information sources are used alongside one another. And in this past fiscal year, the 4.7 million uses of electronic resources dwarfs the 156,774 print materials checked out. Distribution of library funds echoes this: in this same fiscal year, $5.1 million was spent on electronic materials versus the $2.2 million spent on printed materials.
On the Alderman library question, Conor confuses the idea of intrinsic value and cultural capital. “Call it an idealistic stance if you will,” he remarks, “but there is merit to the notion that the presence of books lends intrinsic value to the library itself.” What is the intrinsic value of books? The most evident answer is that the value lies in the ideas contained in books. Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press circa 1450 is considered a critical event in human history, ushering in a new era of civilization. Hard text has not only documented history; it has shaped it. The intrinsic value of books comes from the ideas contained within them and how we interact with those ideas. I see this in the present day, whether I’m browsing Alderman Stacks for a research paper or lending a friend a dog-eared copy of my favorite novel.
What is it about being surrounded by hard copy books that gives us aesthetic pleasure; why does it create an “aura of gravitas?” I argue it is because of the cultural value we attach to books — the authority of collected knowledge, the sense of academic seriousness and so on. These associations are instilled in us as we grow up, and they are primed with additional emphasis at this old, renowned University.
If the intrinsic value of books lies in their ideas rather than their physical presence, this might suggest that there are no fundamental problems with discarding hard copies in favor of electronic ones. But for academic purposes, current e-readers, tablets and computer screens don’t have the same capabilities — to flip through pages, marking up a page for close reading, cross-referencing multiple works at the same time. The pros and cons suggest that an ideal “hybrid” library has both hard and electronic copies of its books.
This holds particularly true in our own Rare Books School (RBS). Last weekend, I was fortunate to attend a talk by Michael Suarez, director of the RBS. He made a compelling case for why we must be wary of forgoing hard copy books for digital copies (this holds particularly true for older materials and manuscripts). It lends a new historical dimension to the “intrinsic value” of books. It asserts the importance of preserving hard copies, despite advances in technology. In the case of the RBS, it’s not only the ideas contained in the book but also the ink on the page.
As these library renovations progress, it is important for students and faculty to pay attention. Those running the renovation project are already seeking input: “We will do a series of different types of engagements, investigations and some one-on-one interviews with key administrators, like the head librarian,” said Kate Meyer, senior project manager for Facilities Management’s department of Planning and Construction about student and faculty involvement in the process. “We also plan to have outreach with general faculty, students and staff, and that may take the form of workshops or questionnaires.”
In other words, those who use the libraries most have multiple channels for speaking up about how the renovations will proceed. In the quest to anticipate the future, we must take our technological visions with a dose of skepticism.
George Knaysi is an Opinion Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at g.knaysi@cavalierdaily.com.
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