I have been personally involved in the investigations regarding expanding the space of the Falmouth Memorial Library since 2006. Throughout this process I have considered how the future of our library will be affected by e-books. I’ve read articles and blogs predicting a wide range of possible outcomes of the future of libraries; however, none are based on anything more than conjecture. The conclusion that the other trustees and I have come to is that because we can’t predict the future role of our library in our community, our goal for our space is for it to be as flexible and adaptable as possible. Even if e-books do lead to a smaller book collection in 20 years, we want to be able to adapt that space to serve our residents in other ways – perhaps a lab for seniors to take computer classes, additional large and small meeting rooms for all ages or space to accommodate a technology that we can’t even imagine yet. Whatever it is, it will be free and available to all of our residents.

I don’t know what the future of libraries holds; no one does. But our library is not a warehouse for books; it is a vital community resource and a gathering spot for our residents. The fact is that we need more space now. Whatever the future of libraries brings, I am confident that our library will remain a relevant and vibrant part of the Falmouth community.

Allison Bishop, trustee
Falmouth Memorial Library