With the increased use of internet and digital media, the libraries are becoming obsolete. Universities should therefore only procure digital materials rather than constantly investing in the books. Discuss both the advantages and disadvantages?

It is an irrefutable fact that internet and digital material, in this contemporary society, are becoming an integral part of the educational institutes. Considering this, this essay will discuss the pros and cons associated with only procuring the digital material rather than investing in the books in the universities around the world.

There are a number of benefits of equipping the modern libraries with digital material rather than investing in the paper based books. First and foremost, having lesser burden on the environment could be a substantial advantage to be considered. It is generally believed that the more use of internet and digital books will lead to less demand for printed books; therefore, this will result in less demand for trees and plant resources leading to not only better but also greener environment. A recent article published in The Age revealed that 50% of the deforestation occurs to meet the demands of the paper mills, which could be taken as an espousing example to substantiate this benefit. Besides, having easy accessibility to the resources could be another benefit to be considered.

Despite the positives discussed above regarding the procurement of digital materials rather than books, there is a disadvantage as well, which could not be negated without careful contemplation. Expensive overheads and associated costs could be few detrimental impacts to be taken into account. It is commonly observed that initial costs of setting up digital media in lieu of library could be high because it requires not only a stable internet connection and server but also devices like i-pads and smartphones, which could limit the accessibility.

In the end, indeed, the move of the universities towards digital material to replace the books has many merits; however, the negative aspects also need careful consideration.