Opinions are divided on whether public libraries are essential in today’s society or if they are wasting money and resources when computers are now more advanced. Considering this matter, I side with the former viewpoint because libraries improve reading and comprehensive skills among people, especially young people, and also preserve important historical documents for younger generations. Opponents, however, point to technological advancements as appropriate sources for searching information in recent years.
One of the primary reasons why I hold this view is that libraries can enhance people’s reading and comprehensive abilities. They offer an ideal quiet, noise-free environment, helping people improve their academic abilities. When libraries are located in every town, it is more accessible and convenient for everyone to visit on every weekend, making reading more enjoyable and meaningful when doing with companionships. For instance, the General Science Library of Ho Chi Minh city has thousands of book titles that visitors can choose from. There are also several well-designed and kid-friendly areas divided into functional spaces with advanced technologies, contributing to fostering reading skills among children and making reading even more engaging.
Those who oppose remaining libraries contend that the latest gadgets are a more ideal choice for finding information nowadays. This is because computers and gadgets are now highly-developed with e-books and AI tools, which give users quick access to a wide range of information online within a few seconds. Within simple manipulation, including searching databases and downloading online books, people can store files into drives and use them whenever they want without travelling a long way to reach a public library. As a result, people can save money for travelling and local authorities currently do not need to pour money into building libraries anymore. Although this point is understandable, it ignores the fact that distorted and inaccurate information, which is not carefully checked, can lead to misunderstandings among people.
In my view, libraries should be retained in modern day due to its benefits. Most books are written and published by professionals and trustworthy publishers, so that they can reduce knowledge-based mistakes. Furthermore, libraries also preserve historical documents, ancient manuscripts, and local heritage that cannot be digitized by modern gadgets and can be kept for a long time. As a result, younger generations can have opportunities to observe well-preserved historical antiques and gain more knowledge about their nations in the past.
For these reasons, I am convinced that libraries serve as pivotal social and educational infrastructure. Instead of obsolete physical libraries, it is more realistic for these educational buildings to include digital labs and e-learning tools that make them even more valuable in today’s society.