12 Apr 09 Newspapers in Libraries

In a recent listserv conversation about library periodical subscriptions, I explained that I had discontinued USA Today and The Boston Globe, and had suspended the The Wall Street Journal—all due to a lack of interest by my library’s student patrons.  One listserv participant responded by arguing that libraries have an obligation to continue supporting print papers, basically for nostalgia reasons.  As newspapers slowly disappear, the author wrote, librarians need to ask themselves, “What role we play in the tragedy?”  My retort was a bit defensive, pointing out that I do still subscribe to two local dailies and one weekly, and that I now get the electronic version of The Globe.  I’m now thinking that I errored in that approach and should have just pointed out that information consumption habits have changed and it’s time that we all come to grips with it.

Despite growing up in a household with newspapers and despite the fact that I still enjoy the feel, the layout, and the serendipity of print papers, I do believe the print model is doomed.  This week’s Time magazine reports a 72% decline in the number of media outlets dedicating reporters to Capital Hill.  Ad revenue is down because circulation is down.  It would seem that reporters simply can’t be paid.  The same thing is happening to TV news.  At home and at work, people are increasingly online and getting info throughout their day.  And given that most people don’t even yet know about or use RSS technology, the efficiency of online news gathering will only improve.

I’m afraid that looking toward the past will only leave librarians in the past.  Rather than merely lament the loss of print, it’s perhaps time to embrace the digital and teach about RSS, Bloglines, Google Reader, and the like. It’s time to see sites like the New York Times online as an amazing information tool and not just a poor substitute for the original.  I think that the late NBC reporter Irving R. Levine would have loved it.  He is also mentioned in this week’s Time magazine in a piece written by Tom Brokaw.  Brokaw says that before looking at the daily newspapers, Levine would always don white cotton gloves in order to avoid getting ink on his fingers.  Doubtless there are layout and other disadvantages to digital news publication. Box scores and league standings are, for me, one of the biggest shortcomings.  But a couple of good things are guaranteed with online news:  (1) It’s easily accessed  and  (2)  you’ll never get ink on your hands.