Are E-Books Making Us Stupid?: Why Electronic Collections Mean Trouble for Libraries and Their Patrons

From http://www.jimelwood.net/students/spring2013/mccormack_%282012%29_e-books_stupid.pdf Abstract: In 2008, Nicholas Carr published a provocative article titled “Is Google making us stupid?” in which he ponders the effect of the internet and electronic sources generally on the brain. This paper discusses one source specifically, e-books, and explores whether libraries are acting wisely by moving from print to elec - tronic book collections. The topic is considered from the vantage point of the library and from that of the patron. Specifically, the prospect of an all or largely all e-book future is considered and whether that future means an end to traditional library collections and services. The potential problems for “deep reading” are also considered, and, specifically, whether e-books can serve as an adequate substitute for patrons who will no longer be able to use electronic collections in the way they once used print. In short, this paper explores whether e-books are making us—librarians and patrons—stupid