This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Greenwich Library to Keep Investing in Books

The results of the Greenwich Library's community survey, conducted this past spring, show that residents don't want to see the library reduce the amount of printed volumes in its inventory.

Considering the rising popularity e-readers such as the Nook and Kindle, not to mention the increasing use of e-books on tablets such as Apple’s iPad and other mobile devices, one would think that people would have less desire to read books and magazines from print, but that’s not necessarily the case.

As it turns out, many people still have a strong desire to read from print, as evidenced by the results of the ’s 2011 community survey, conducted this past spring, which found that most Greenwich residents don’t want to see the library reduce the amount of printed volumes in its inventory.

More than 90 percent of the nearly 5,600 residents who responded said they want the library to continue investing in print materials.

Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Of course, almost all residents said they want the library to invest in digital resources and technology as well.

Such surveys are of increasing importance to libraries as they develop plans on how to evolve in the digital media age. The findings can often help libraries make smarter investments based on community needs and current trends, and thus balance their budgets and create investment roadmaps more effectively.

Find out what's happening in Greenwichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The surveys are also playing an important role in helping libraries build awareness about new offerings and initiatives that residents might not otherwise know about, including new technologies that enhance the user experience, according to an article in the Greenwich Time.

"We are very pleased with the strong response to the Community Survey," said Jenny Baldock, president of the Greenwich Library Board of Trustees, in a statement. "The results provide an excellent source of information to advance the Library's Strategic Planning process."

One trend that is becoming a viable alternative to investing in costly print materials is “print on demand.” The , for example, recently , from On Demand Books, which can print and bind an entire paperback book in a matter of minutes. Granted you might not get all the liner notes and artwork that came with the original pressing, and hard covers are out of the question, but for those who need to have that printed copy, it is an alternative.

According to published reports, library officials had been considering the machine for three or four years before working out a deal with On Demand Books to install one. The Darien Library is reportedly the only public library on the East Coast with the machine, which it may consider buying it a later date.

Bottom line is, for some people, there’s nothing that beats reading from a printed page. Past studies have shown that reading from print is less stressful on the eyes, compared to reading from a backlit screen. What’s more, some studies show that readers retain information better when they absorb it from print, as opposed to a computer monitor or portable device (however other studies have called these theories into question).

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?