(+) Libraries Without Books

Students attending the University of Texas at Austin will find something missing from the undergraduate library this fall.

Books.

In an article in the New York Times, Ralph Blumenthal writes that the University of Texas is clearing the Austin library's 90,000 volumes and sending them to other university libraries. The books and even the shelving are being replaced with "software suites" - modules with computers where students can work collaboratively at all hours - an expanded center for writing instruction, and a center for computer training, technical assistance, and repair.

Fred Heath, Vice Provost of the University of Texas Libraries in Austin, said, "In this information-seeking America, I can't think of anyone who would elect to build a books-only library."

In fact, we will soon see this trend in genealogy libraries as well.

The remainder of this article is for Plus Edition subscribers. If you have a Plus Edition user ID and password, you can read the article right now in this web site's Plus Edition subscriber's Discussion Forum.

If you do not remember your Plus Edition user ID or password, you can obtain them at http://www.eogn.com/amember/member.php

If you would like more information about subscribing to the Plus Edition of Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, visit http://www.eogn.com/plus