I came across this article and did a little research. Interesting, no books but a cafe with an expensive espresso machine. Huh?
It seems that Cushing Academy, a prep school in CT, decided that paper books were like ancient scrolls and too outdated. They have decided to transform their library into a media center with Kindle-type readers, computers, TVs and, of course, fancy coffee. How sad for those kids! Their website says that they are not going bookless, they are just offering books in electronic media. I find it difficult to curl up in bed with my computer. You know, all those wires, the mouse, the monitor...they all get in the way! What happens when a student needs to bring a book home? They are to use their computers instead. As a prep school I suppose every student has a nice computer, but how can they do this? I mean, really!
Here is the Cushing Academy website: Cushing Academy Library
Here is an article from the Boston Globe: Welcome to the Library, Say Goodbye to the Books
The tactile sensation of holding a book and turning the pages is all part of the experience of reading. They are portable and easy to pop in your purse (if you have one) or even your briefcase. You can read in bed without being all wired up. There is no annoying glare while trying to read as there is when reading something from electronic media.
It sounds as though this school has stock in Kindle, or they are just trying to be a New Age school appealing to the cappucino buying parents who send kids to a "prep school" to appear high class while hoping their kids make good "contacts" for later in life. Learning be damned!
