Academy trades books for digital versions

Cushing Academy in Massachutsetts has traded in its 20,000 volume library of traditional books for a  web-based multimedia library including 18 Amazon Kindles and Sony readers.  Is this the future of reading?

The Boston Globe quote headmaster James Tracy : “When I look at books, I see an outdated technology, like scrolls before books.”

The school likes to think they are trading in 20,000 books for millions but I don’t know. For me there is still something about holding a book in your hand. Maybe I’m just old-fashioned. It is very true that kids are more familiar with technology at younger ages than even my age is, but I just wish books were as timeless as I hope they are.

Another quote from the story was very telling:

Tia Alliy, a 16-year-old junior, said she visits the library nearly every day, but only once looked for a book in the stacks. She’s not alone. School officials said when they checked library records one day last spring only 48 books had been checked out, and 30 of those were children’s books.

Really?

The school is one of the first to go this route, but I suspect they won’t be the last.  . .