Are hard copy library materials outdated?

When was the last time you held a hard copy of a book or magazine in your hand as you read? Do you remember what a newspaper smells like when you first unfold it? Did you turn the pages in the Little Golden Books when someone read to you as a small child? As you prepare your response to the Discussion question or this week, consider whether the benefits of hard copy materials outweigh the convenience of immediate access to information that comes with technological advances.

Imagine that you are a librarian in an elementary school. A wealthy benefactor has offered to replace every hard copy book in your library with all of the technology needed to switch to a digital copy system. What do you think would be the two most important benefits that this shift would provide to classroom teachers and to the students? Describe at least two negative impacts that this shift to digital books would have on teachers and students.