A few
universities have converted their campus libraries into computing centers or
study halls with Wi-Fi, but Florida Polytechnic University might be the first
institution of higher education to be built with a bookless library from the
start.
The newly
constructed campus in Lakeland just opened for its first classes as part of the
Florida State University system. The library services area housed in the
Innovation, Science, and Technology Building does provide access to 135,000
titles, according to the Los Angeles Times, but they’re all digital. There are no print books at all in the
library.
The library
does have printers available. It’s also possible for Polytechnic students to
arrange to borrow a hardcover book from another Florida State campus through
interlibrary loans. However, students will be discouraged from doing either.
“Instead,
the staff hopes students will organize their research online with tools that
are part of the library service,” the article said.
On the
school’s home page, the link labeled “Library” takes students to a page
inviting them to “create your personal Florida Poly library.”
