Is There Any Need of Library In This Digital Age?

 The internet has become one of the most important inventions which has significantly changed the way people can access and receive information. Now days, the internet dominates today's information environment. The internet has changed the way of students use the library. Students now prefers to use internet for any kind of knowledge or information rather than visiting to libraries.Some argues that libraries soon will sink into oblivion as nowadays information of any field is readily available on the Internet. To the best of our knowledge, this idea should be rejected as one can see quite a few facts in favour of why libraries are still of relevance in modern days.
Generally speaking, students today are learning in conditions which are not conducive to their education. At home, they are distracted with all kinds of noise coming from next door. It is not a rare occasion when a party is organized or a karaoke session is held. In colleges, vehicle horns, the sound of motorbike engines or from construction sites continue to wreak havoc on students’ concentration. In such situations, libraries are no less than oases in the desert for the students. They are places where it is invariably quiet anytime they visit, where they have their work done effectively.  

Some hold the belief that libraries are no more necessary for learning in this digital age, when knowledge and information is freely available for students in internet. From the another way of our perspective, this view is flawed because everything is not on the internet, it consist of a small percentages of what’s published. Search engines such as Google, AltaVista and Yahoo access are limited. What this argument fails to take into account is the fact that a significant amount of information on the Internet nowadays has never been verified and therefore it is prejudiced, not accurate or even misleading. Such information can potentially warp students’ perception on many life issues, which can cause devastating effects on both their professional careers and private lives later down on their road. On the other hands, books are always examined officially before being published. Hence, it is much better for students to gain wisdom from books than from materials circulating the Internet. 

These foregoing points have brought to the conclusion that the importance of libraries should not be downplayed despite many advancements made in the technological era.

Mridusmita Das