First all-digital library in the U.S. will look like an Apple Store

A library in Bexar County, Texas will soon be the first in the country to open without a single physical book. The fully digital public library system will be called BiblioTech and is being led by Bexar County Judge Nelson...

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Any bets that even if this does come to fruition that it'll either be empty of full of kids messing around on youtube?

And here in Quebec we already have Bibliotheques, just they're full of books and rarely have working computers. I also question the need for such a service, if you want to read a book you still need to go to the Library, if you want to look up a book why not just use your own PC. The better idea would be to put that funding into already existing, struggling, Libraries instead of opening Internet Cafes that are already obsolete in todays digital age. I just don't see the point. And have to point out the fact that they're going to waste a lot of money on Macs instead of PC's if they do go that route.

Exactly... and people playing casino games. Adhmuz, PCs at the library are generally for people who don't own their own PCs. Its a way for low income to people to have access to email and word processing, which helps a lot with finding a job.

The impression I get is that it's being discussed as something cool and new, but it really just sounds like a normal library without the books. Libraries already have computers, this one just has more. Are they going to allow you to checkout ebooks?

Sooo... the biggest waste of money?

Meh...

You guys realize they can just lock down the OSes to only allow exactly what they want users to do right? If they were smart they'd just run a bunch of thin-clients to virtual machines on a server and configure it so all the user sees is a custom full-screen application/webpage for browsing books, etc.

Making each machine a full-blown desktop machine with all it's own hardware is where the waste of money comes in. Although if they wanted to use thin-clients they'd have to not use Apple machines because I don't think Apple offers any thin-clients.

"The better idea would be to put that funding into already existing, struggling, Libraries instead of opening Internet Cafes that are already obsolete in todays digital age."

I agree, what a waste of money. They can buy and distribute 800 laptops for $250K if they wanted to give access to the poor and make the whole thing online. I bet they are just dumping money into overpriced Apple computers instead of having a simple PC system which will get the job done just as well for one tenth the price..

Seems more like a fan shrine to Steve Jobs rather than anything useful.