The Link to Content in 21st-Century Libraries
Content can seem largely invisible in today’s 21st-century libraries. Especially after first-floor renovations, books and print journals are often hidden away on the unrenovated, musty upper floors of the library building and are unseen when people enter the facility. When libraries renovate or rebuild, significant portions of the library print collections are frequently removed from their shelves — to remote storage, compact shelving, or automated retrieval systems (ARS) in the library or off-site or occasionally to areas for disposal. Circulation statistics for print books are on a decline for most libraries while the use of digital collections soars.
