[Web4lib] Paperless society

[Jane Jorgenson]

To suggest that paper telephone books are always the most inefficient 
source is just wrong (and more then a little silly).  Certainly there 
are times, many of them in fact, when an online database or the web 
based directories are more convenient or even efficient (to use your 
term).  But there are just as many instances when it is far quicker 
to grab the local phone book for a number then it is to load up a web 
page and enter the search.  And when it comes to a patron wanting to 
browse a particular category in the yellow pages, I'm thrilled if I 
have a print copy for the city he's seeking.

To bring this back to the paperless argument - I'd argue that the 
same can be said for a variety of print/web resources we use.  Our 
funds are limited so we have to set up a competitive way of valuing 
the sources - "this one is better then that one so let's put our 
money there" - but if you are lucky enough to have both print and web 
resources then you have complimentary resources.  Ones that will fill 
in the gaps that each has to offer.

Jane Jorgenson
Madison Public Library
Madison WI



>Telephone books are *much* more scarce than they used to be.  That you
>continue to use the most inefficient available container for this sort of
>information doesn't make the assertion silly or wrong.
>
>-David