With the introduction of computers to the modern world, books,
the traditional medium, are more and more challenged. Libraries often face the dilemma of investing on computers or books. With all aspects carefully considered,an investment on computers would be a better choice.
When equipped with computers, a library may run more efficiently than ever. Students or faculties may get useful information as fast as the computer can. A student may find it easier to type in only a key word and get the desired results,which, if done with books, may well need a long time scanning among many related books; A researcher may feel it more convenient to find an article on those Engineering CD series than in a paper book. With the development of computer technology, such as the increasement of CPU rate, memory, or cache on the mainbord, the efficiency of getting information can only be accelerated, whereas a man's reading speed is normally limited to some extent.The efficiency of getting information is the users' major concern. While for the librarians, what they care most is how to store as much as possible information within limited space.
A computer has a large storage capacity. When a book with 750,000Chinese characters is stored as electronic text, it only take about 1M bytes on the hard disk. When stored on a normal CD with 640MB capacity, when these CDs are packed in locks, much precious space will be spared for other uses.
Unlike a book, a mortal physical medium, a computer may keep all data on its disk safe and sound for a long time. It is very easy for us to copy, backup, or transfer those data to rewritable CDs or other recording materials.
The last but not the least. Internet may provide these computers with more capabilities of future information exchanges.
Books, certainly, have their own merits. As a traditional medium, people have reasons for cherishing them. They are easy to carry, conveniently read without consumption of any other type of energy. However, for a modern library, computers, presenting so many merits and possibilities, can be more reasonably treated as a wiser choice.
the traditional medium, are more and more challenged. Libraries often face the dilemma of investing on computers or books. With all aspects carefully considered,an investment on computers would be a better choice.
When equipped with computers, a library may run more efficiently than ever. Students or faculties may get useful information as fast as the computer can. A student may find it easier to type in only a key word and get the desired results,which, if done with books, may well need a long time scanning among many related books; A researcher may feel it more convenient to find an article on those Engineering CD series than in a paper book. With the development of computer technology, such as the increasement of CPU rate, memory, or cache on the mainbord, the efficiency of getting information can only be accelerated, whereas a man's reading speed is normally limited to some extent.The efficiency of getting information is the users' major concern. While for the librarians, what they care most is how to store as much as possible information within limited space.
A computer has a large storage capacity. When a book with 750,000Chinese characters is stored as electronic text, it only take about 1M bytes on the hard disk. When stored on a normal CD with 640MB capacity, when these CDs are packed in locks, much precious space will be spared for other uses.
Unlike a book, a mortal physical medium, a computer may keep all data on its disk safe and sound for a long time. It is very easy for us to copy, backup, or transfer those data to rewritable CDs or other recording materials.
The last but not the least. Internet may provide these computers with more capabilities of future information exchanges.
Books, certainly, have their own merits. As a traditional medium, people have reasons for cherishing them. They are easy to carry, conveniently read without consumption of any other type of energy. However, for a modern library, computers, presenting so many merits and possibilities, can be more reasonably treated as a wiser choice.