The world's very first library without books is scheduled to open in San Antonio, Texas, later on this year.
Apparently, physical, hardbound books are sooo last century, as the new BiblioTech Library will only "house" digital copies of your favorite titles that library-goers will be able to view in the library's sparkling new facility. The library will have 100 e-readers available for circulation and to "borrow", 50 e-readers designed for young children, 50 computer stations, 25 laptops and 25 tablets for customers. Customers can also bring along their own tablets, Nooks or Kindles and can download books directly to their own devices.
The library will be partnering with e-book publishers to give clients access to more than 10,000 titles by the end of 2013, with expectations to add at least as many new titles each year. Nelson Wolff, who designed the new facility after reading a biography on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, says "If you want to get an idea of what [the new library] looks like, go into an Apple store."
"You will be able to check out a book, read it on-site. It will be a learning environment -- you'll be able to learn about technology itself as well as access a tremendous amount of information," Wolff stated in an interview with local San Antonio media.
For bibliophiles who complain there is nothing compared to opening the pages of a new book and diving in, Wolff assures "We all know the world is changing. I am an avid book reader. I read hardcover books, I have a collection of 1,000 first editions. Books are important to me," Wolff told ABC News. "But the world is changing and this is the best, most effective way to bring services to our community."
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