A new kind of library lends tech, not books

By McClatchy-Tribune, adapted by Newsela staff

Mar. 18, 2014 4:00 AM

Paco Garcia is reflected on computer screens as he uses a computer at BiblioTech, a first of its kind digital
public library, on Sept. 16, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. BiblioTech is a play on the Spanish word for library
which is biblioteca.

WASHINGTONCan you have a library with no books? The people in San Antonio do. Their
newest public library is book-free.
Six months ago, the BiblioTech became the countrys first public bookless library. The name comes
from the word biblioteca. That means library in Spanish.
Readers can download e-books from wherever they are. Even our soldiers in Afghanistan can borrow
something to read.
Dont have a computer? No problem.
People in San Antonio can check out tablets or e-readers. Its free. They can also use the librarys
computers. Kids can get tablets loaded with 150 childrens books.

Computer Lab And Reading Room

In Washington, D.C., the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library cleared shelves of books.
It created a huge area without books. The library calls this area Digital Commons. Its part
computer lab. Its also part reading room. Theres a giant touch screen for teaching classes. It also
has a machine to make a book. The childrens
section has a touch-screen table.
The book has been around for more than 500 years. And its not going away anytime soon. But
new technology is slowly taking over.
Several digital projects scan in records and books. They also scan in rare treasures. Anyone with
a computer can see them online.
These projects are great for students, teachers and lifelong learners, said James H. Billington. He
works at the Library of Congress in Washington. Its the countrys top library. Billington said hes
pleased to see that the project keeps growing.

Buys Books But Reads E-Books

Nelson Wolff got the idea for BiblioTech. It is located in a poor part of San Antonio.
Wolff collects booksreal books.
I had refused to read e-books, he said.
Now?
I dont read hardcover books, Wolff said. I buy them, but I dont read them.
That kind of thinking may be spreading. People from around the world go to BiblioTech online.
The main thing is people are using it, he said.
In Washington, all kinds of people visit the MLK library. Its the only way some poor people can
go online. They dont have money to buy computers.
Nick Kerelchuk is in charge of MLKs Digital Commons. He said the space is about people
connecting and sharing together.

Quiz
1. What activity is NOT usually done in the Digital Commons area?
(a) reading a book on a computer or tablet
(b) teaching classes with a touch screen
(c) making a book using a machine
(d) reading a hardcover book
2. Who thought up the BiblioTech?
(a) Martin Luther King Jr.
(b) James H. Billington
(c) Nick Kerelchuck
(d) Nelson Wolff
3. Which event happened first?
(a) BiblioTech became the first bookless library in the U.S.
(b) Nelson Wolff started collecting hardcover books.
(c) Nelson Wolff got the idea of the BiblioTech.
(d) Nelson Wolff started reading e-books.
4. How many years has the book been around?
(a) 10,000 years
(b) 5,000 years
(c) 500 years
(d) 150 years

Answer Key
1. What activity is NOT usually done in the Digital Commons area?
(a) reading a book on a computer or tablet
(b) teaching classes with a touch screen
(c) making a book using a machine
(d) reading a hardcover book
2. Who thought up the BiblioTech?
(a) Martin Luther King Jr.
(b) James H. Billington
(c) Nick Kerelchuck
(d) Nelson Wolff
3. Which event happened first?
(a) BiblioTech became the first bookless library in the U.S.
(b) Nelson Wolff started collecting hardcover books.
(c) Nelson Wolff got the idea of the BiblioTech.
(d) Nelson Wolff started reading e-books.
4. How many years has the book been around?
(a) 10,000 years
(b) 5,000 years
(c) 500 years
(d) 150 years