1371: "Bookless Library"

Interesting Things with JC #1371: "Bookless Library" – Shelves vanished. Screens replaced spines. For one city it was a bold leap into the future of reading.

Curriculum - Episode Anchor

Episode Title: Bookless Library

Episode Number: 1371

Host: JC

Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners

Subject Area: Library science, information technology, media literacy, social history

Lesson Overview

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Define what constitutes a digital-only public library and its core features.

• Compare the benefits and drawbacks of fully digital versus hybrid library models.

• Analyze the impact of technology-driven changes on public library services in different countries.

• Explain why hybrid models have become more prevalent than fully digital approaches.

Key Vocabulary

• Digital library (ˈdɪdʒ.ɪ.təl ˈlaɪ.brer.i) — A library where collections are stored in digital formats and accessed electronically.

• Hybrid model (ˈhaɪ.brɪd ˈmɒd.əl) — A service approach combining physical and digital resources.

• E-lending (ˈiː ˌlɛnd.ɪŋ) — The process of borrowing digital books or media from a library.

• Copyright (ˈkɑː.pi.raɪt) — Legal protection given to the creators of original works, affecting how digital media can be shared.

• Accessibility features (əkˌsɛs.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti ˈfiː.tʃərz) — Tools like adjustable text size, narration, or translation to aid diverse readers.

Narrative Core

Open – In 2013, Scranton Public Library made headlines by removing all physical books and launching the Tech-Knowledge-y Discovery Center.

Info – Inspired by San Antonio’s BiblioTech, Scranton became one of the first all-digital public libraries on the East Coast.

Details – The library replaced shelves with digital kiosks, tablets, and computers, offering e-books, audiobooks, and accessible features—but critics worried about losing the “magic” of physical browsing.

Reflection – The debate highlights a global conversation about technology, accessibility, and preserving the essence of libraries in a digital age.

Closing – These are interesting things, with JC.

A modern library interior with no bookshelves, featuring several touch-screen kiosks and a tablet on tables in the foreground, and computer workstations along the back wall.

Transcript

In 2013, the Scranton Public Library System in Pennsylvania took a bold step—removing the books. They launched the Tech-Knowledge-y Discovery Center, a deliberate play on words linking technology with knowledge. It was one of the first public libraries on the U.S. East Coast to go entirely digital, following the example of BiblioTech in San Antonio, Texas—the nation’s first all-digital public library, which had opened earlier that year.

Gone were the rows of paperbacks and hardcovers. In their place: sleek touch-screen kiosks, tablets, and computer stations. Patrons could check out e-books, audiobooks, and other digital media—loading them onto personal devices or borrowing library-provided tablets. The model promised lower maintenance costs, instant access, and features like adjustable text, audio narration, and translation tools that could help readers with disabilities.

Not everyone embraced it. Critics argued that without shelves to browse, libraries risk losing their magic—those moments of discovery when a book you weren’t looking for finds you. Supporters countered that digital collections could reach more people, especially in rural areas or for patrons unable to visit in person.

Other countries tested similar ideas. In the United Kingdom, some councils experimented with digital-only “community hubs.” In 2016, Devon County Council converted part of an Exeter branch into a screen-based reading lounge. It drew curiosity but struggled to keep visitor numbers up, and traditional lending areas remained more popular. The U.K.’s centrally supported, locally run library system—and different copyright rules—allowed cheaper, less restricted e-lending. Yet budget pressures there closed more than 800 branches since 2010. In the U.S., where libraries often serve larger geographic areas, going fully digital presents even greater logistical challenges.

Today, most experiments like Scranton’s have shifted toward hybrid models—pairing traditional stacks with robust digital collections. This approach preserves the tactile, sensory pleasure of holding a real book—the faint scent of paper and ink, the weight in your hands, the subtle sound of pages turning—while meeting modern demand for instant, mobile access.

The future of libraries may bring broader free access to digital books as copyright terms expire and open-access initiatives grow. But it is likely that print and digital will coexist—each offering something the other can’t replace. The Tech-Knowledge-y Discovery Center proved that a library can be more than a warehouse for books. The challenge now is keeping them as places of discovery, connection, and shared knowledge, no matter the format.

These are interesting things, with JC.

Student Worksheet

1. What was the name of the digital-only facility created by the Scranton Public Library in 2013?

2. Which U.S. city opened the first all-digital public library, and in what year?

3. Name two accessibility features mentioned in the episode.

4. What problem did the digital-only branch in Exeter, UK, encounter?

5. Explain why hybrid models are more common today than fully digital ones.

Teacher Guide

Estimated Time – 45–60 minutes

Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy – Introduce key terms using visual aids, real-world examples, and digital resource demonstrations.

Anticipated Misconceptions –

• Students may assume all-digital libraries are cheaper to run in every context.

• Students might think physical books will disappear entirely.

Discussion Prompts –

• How does browsing in person differ from searching a digital database?

• Can a library still feel like a “community space” without books on shelves?

Differentiation Strategies –

• ESL: Provide bilingual glossaries and visual vocabulary cards.

• IEP: Offer guided note templates and audio recordings of key points.

• Gifted: Encourage deeper research on copyright’s effect on digital lending.

Extension Activities –

• Compare your local library’s digital offerings to Scranton’s 2013 model.

• Design an ideal hybrid library floor plan.

Cross-Curricular Connections –

• Sociology: Community impact of technology changes.

• Economics: Cost-benefit analysis of digital vs. physical collections.

• Technology: Digital accessibility tools.

Quiz

1. What year did the Scranton Public Library remove its physical books?
   A. 2010
   B. 2013
   C. 2016
   D. 2018
   Answer: B

2. Which Texas city opened the first all-digital public library?
   A. Austin
   B. San Antonio
   C. Dallas
   D. Houston
   Answer: B

3. Which feature can help readers with disabilities access digital books?
   A. Larger shelves
   B. Adjustable text size
   C. Plastic covers
   D. Barcode scanning
   Answer: B

4. What challenge did the Exeter digital lounge face?
   A. High electricity costs
   B. Low visitor numbers
   C. No internet connection
   D. Shorter opening hours
   Answer: B

5. What is the likely future for libraries according to the episode?
   A. Only digital
   B. Only print
   C. Hybrid of print and digital
   D. Libraries will close entirely
   Answer: C

Assessment

Open-Ended Questions

1. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of a fully digital library versus a hybrid library model.

2. How might copyright laws influence the growth of digital libraries in different countries?

3–2–1 Rubric

• 3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful

• 2 = Partial or missing detail

• 1 = Inaccurate or vague

Standards Alignment

U.S. Standards

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2 – Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development. Students identify and discuss the central theme of library evolution.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1 – Initiate and participate effectively in collaborative discussions. Applied through class debates on digital vs. print libraries.

• ISTE 3a – Plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information. Students compare global library models.

• C3.D2.His.14.9-12 – Analyze multiple and complex causes and effects in history. Applied to understanding the shift toward hybrid library systems.

UK / International Equivalents

• Cambridge IGCSE Information and Communication Technology (0417) 1.1 – Understand ICT applications in everyday life.

• IB MYP Individuals & Societies Criterion B – Investigating: Students research and analyze historical and contemporary library systems.

Show Notes

In this episode, JC explores the Scranton Public Library’s bold 2013 move to become one of the first fully digital public libraries on the U.S. East Coast. Inspired by San Antonio’s pioneering BiblioTech, the transformation replaced shelves of books with touch-screen kiosks, tablets, and e-lending. The episode examines the pros and cons of this approach, global parallels such as the UK’s Exeter project, and why hybrid models now dominate. This topic is especially relevant in classrooms today, where students must navigate both digital and print information landscapes, assess accessibility innovations, and understand the broader social implications of technology in public spaces.

References

• Scranton Public Library. (n.d.). Scranton Public Library – Lackawanna County Library System. Retrieved from https://lclshome.org/

• BiblioTech Bexar County Digital Library. (n.d.). About BiblioTech. Retrieved from https://www.bexarbibliotech.org/about-us

• American Library Association. (2013). E-books and libraries: An overview. Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/advocacy/e-books