Maintaining public libraries is a waste of time since digital technology is now replacing their function. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Maintaining public libraries is a waste of time since digital technology is now replacing their function. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

It is argued that digital technology could substitute public libraries due to their similar function. I completely disagree with this idea and hold the view that library serves a lot more purposes.

There are a few limits of digital technology. Firstly, a large amount of information on the Internet is unreliable and might mislead the readers. The authors or editors of the pages are sometimes not well-qualified while books usually provide a relatively reliable source of information.Secondly, some ancient collections of books、newspapers and magazines do not have a digital version, which forces the researchers to look for them in the libraries. Thirdly, most of the elderly are incapable of searching for information on the Internet, the disappearance of libraries basically deprives them of the opportunity to read and learn.

In my opinion, public libraries are still a key part in the modern society . On top of its collection function,  libraries create a peaceful atmosphere for its citizens. People are able to keep motivated under such circumstance thus enhancing their work efficiency and productivity. Furthermore, public libraries usually act as the landmark of the city, which means that they represent the spirit of the city and always remind the general public of the importance of reading and studying. In addition, public libraries provide free access to books for everyone.This is a significant point because a large number of people could not afford the books online and some of them have no access to computers.

In conclusion,  I believe that digital technology could never take the place of public libraries.