Washington County Closes 3 Libraries

Now that e-mail is busting budgets for the United States Postal Service, some are wondering whether technology will soon spell the end of public libraries as e-readers like iPads and Kindles are growing in popularity.

Library officials say it's a similar situation. The USPS is closing some smaller offices across the state, and Washington County is now closing three of its smallest libraries, saying the demand for electronic books and magazines is changing the way residents get their reading material.

Washington County officials say the three libraries it closed only account for three percent of the system's overall activity.

For many people, a visit to the local library is part of their regular routine -- but the neighborhood library in Newport, Minn., will soon be a thing of the past. Six other branches will soon be closed on Sundays and Mondays, making them the only libraries in the metro that are only open five days a week.

Though the Internet and new devices are making it unnecessary for readers to consult with librarians, demand for other services -- like kiosks allowing readers to order books and pick them up -- is still booming.

After more than a century, Newport isn't ready to close the book on the state's oldest library just yet. The historic building will become a community center, and hopefully turn the page on a whole new era.
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Source: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/washington-county-closes-3-libraries-jan-03-2012

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