Are Public Libraries Useful Or Not? Essay Examples

Nowadays, due to the orientation of public libraries to the needs of residents, a particular focus is put on ensuring their informational, cultural and social aspects. Public libraries prove to be truly helpful and effective, even though there are those who frown upon these places.
One of the primary benefits of modern public libraries is the ability to provide free and equal access to information. It is asserted that these institutions promote social justice. Expanding the availability of information increases the role of libraries as a stabilizing social factor. Moreover, equal opportunities of production and consumption of data among various categories of the population are offered (Barnhart & Pierce 2011). However, the opponents argue that this point is largely generalized, since equality is a multifaceted concept that is not directly related to public libraries.
Mainka et al. (2013) maintains that public library is considered as a center of social life and cultural communication. Furthermore, this institution provide perfect opportunities to hold public meetings. According to Anttiroiko et al. (2011), public libraries allow every citizen to interact with the media, social services, authorities and enterprises. Admittedly, public library creates conditions for collective communication, however it is a waste of time. Nowadays the internet offers both a cutting-edge platform for communication and an enormous number of e-books. Therefore, people fritter away their time visiting public libraries. (Audunson, 2005).
Nonetheless, technological modernization have consolidated position of modern libraries. Public libraries boast not only an access to a wide range of sources of knowledge but also up-to-date facilities (Mandel et al., 2010). They provide quiet comforting environment, where a person can hide from the rest of the world. However, the downside is that people cannot completely relax and feel cozy in a nook, as they can easily do at home. Clearly, there is some room for improvement but the efficiency of these institutions cannot be denied.
Public libraries emphasize the equality of all users, regardless of age, social status, race, nationality, religion, place of residence, language. Of particular relevance are communicative and cognitive functions that ensure the use of public cultural heritage of humanity.

Introduction

General comments
Thesis: Public libraries prove to be truly helpful and effective, even though there are those who frown upon these places.
Body
Argument 1
Free access to information.
Equal opportunities.
Ambiguity of equality.
There is no direct link between equality and public libraries.
Argument 2
Cultural communication.
Media interaction.
Waste of time.
Internet provides massive amount of literature.
Argument 3
Public libraries offer a great deal of useful information.
Quiet environment
Inability to relax.
Public libraries are not cozy, as home is.
Conclusion
Restate/Summary
Closing Comments

References

Anttiroiko, A. V., & Savolainen, R. (2011). Towards library 2.0: The adoption of web 2.0 technologies in public libraries. Libri 61 (2): 87–99.
Audunson, R. 2005. “The public library as a meeting-place in a multicultural and digital context: The necessity of low intensive meeting-places.” Journal of Documentation, 61(3): 429–441.
Barnhart, F. D., & Pierce, J. E. (2011). Becoming mobile: Reference in the ubiquitous library. Journal of Library Administration, 51 (3): 279–290.
Mainka, A., et al. (2013). Public libraries in the knowledge society: Core services of libraries in informational world cities. Libri, 63 (4), 295−319.
Mandel, L. H., et al. (2010). Broadband for public libraries: Importance, issues, and research needs. Government Information Quarterly, 1-12.