Something a little funny at the end but nevertheless true…
How I explained why hardcopy books on shelves are still important in the age of the net and e-books:
The internet is a deep and often unfathomable sea of information. Out of sight and some essential knowledge might be out of mind. That’s what books are for. They might be part of the sea, but they are the titled, the labelled floating logs on the surface of the sea, remaining visible and accessible, letting us know what lies deeper within them, to have and to hold on to without drowning beneath.
They also remind us of knowledge once cherished enough to be purchased and collected, but now forgotten, that deserve second reads. While they might also be in the net, they might not be archived yet. And even if there are updated editions online, they are primary in reminding us to search for them.]
All thanks to my housekeeper, who was lamenting during spring-cleaning, of me having way ‘too many’ books, who didn’t understand, who helped me to come up with the above, which also helped myself further understand why I love books. To her aghast, I said I will now gather more!
(A problem with hardcopy books is high cost and lack of immediacy in revision. Unfortunately, storage space is still a tangible concern despite my post! On the state of the net, much credit to content-providers online, such as the voluntary editors of Wikipedia, history’s largest and free encyclopedia, that is increasingly substantiated with proper cross-checking references. Much knowledge is available online already. What we need next is wisdom to navigate the waters with discernment, instead of being distracted, led astray by seductive siren songs on dangerous shores.)