First
Paperless public Library of the World BiblioTech was opened in the USA
State of Texas on 4 February 2014. The traditional libraries have been
replaced with high-tech gadgets that cater to both adults and children.
Registered
residents of the Texas will be able to access over tens of thousands of titles
from e-readers for free. According to its website, the 1.5 million dollar
BiblioTech currently has 600
e-readers, 200 pre-loaded enhanced e-readers for children, and 48 computer
stations, 10 laptops and 40 tablets to use on-site.
Paperless
technology will also help to manage funds. The team members aren’t tied up
re-shelving, filing and categorising. They spend most of their time providing
one-on-one instruction with visitors, teaching people how to use devices and
how to source materials. It’s a more interactive library experience. Replacement
costs have also been factored in to the project. Thefts can be easily prevented
as devices cannot access the internet once they leave the library. Traditional
libraries require much larger load-tolerances in construction due to the weight
of materials, so are more costly to build. Book collections also require
environmental controls that are costly to maintain.
