Have you ever thought of a library without any book? Well, this impossible concept has been materialized by the Florida Polytechnic University.
The newly inaugurated library comprises of over 135,000 electronic books and a patron-driven collection development plan that permits students to choose books based on their class requirements. Once the book has been used twice, the library purchases it and adds it to their collection.
"Since we are a new university, we had the option to open totally digital," said Dr. Kathryn Miller, director of libraries. "The digital resources are part of the university's mission," wusa9 reports.
The $60 million state-of-the-art library is constructed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The idea behind the digital library is to encourage students in STEM fields to think innovatively.
In a statement, the school said that the move is aimed at helping students "become innovative problem-solvers and high-tech professionals through interdisciplinary teaching, leading-edge research and collaborative local, regional and global partnerships."
Drew Davis, an electrical engineering student with a concentration in control systems, believes that this amazing feat is a step in the right direction. Appreciating the school's efforts to lead the digital movement, Freshman Logan Micher said that students will now be able to save time by finding information quickly.
"When you get a print book you spend time reading to find what you need, but with digital, you can go straight in," said Micher, the mechanical and industrial engineering major. "That this much information is available at our fingertips is something other libraries can't provide."
Although some reckon it as a bold move, others feel that it is impossible to replace print books despite increasing access to e-books.
"We loan out 12 million pieces of information a year, and 400,000 of those are print. We never thought it was practical to do away with books entirely," said David Hiscoe, director of communication strategy at North Carolina State University Libraries.
University of Chicago sophomore Casey Kim said that it always feels good to physically hold a book than reading it online.
If FPU students indeed miss using real books, nearby Polk State College will allow them to access up to five items at a time, abc reports.
