Should we still be building public libraries?

There are many indications that our elected representatives are showing a renewed interest in policies promoting reading. Libraries are being built, and town councils, inter-municipal groupings, and even départements are taking a greater interest in the issue. Yet researchers have also raised questions about stagnant or even falling library use, while surveys have shown that readers are now using libraries in different ways. The digital revolution, which has affected all sectors of society, including politics, has pushed the future of libraries to the top of the agenda, so it is only natural that elected representatives are taking an interest in the issue. In most cases, they are engaging with the issue positively, opening libraries up to digital content and broadening their remit to make them key players in the digital future.
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