It's a fact that the impact of the internet and technology has significantly changed the way we do things. Businesses have had to change, we've all had to change at work or home .... etc etc. So libraries are no exception. I feel that, like businesses, libraries should assess their market and customer usage and adapt accordingly. The flow through of people lending books has dropped, so what can libraries do to ensure their future? The answer must be 'adapt' in some way, look for new approaches. The question they need to answer for themselves is what can they do to ensure their survival? Whatever your views about the local library vs new Library of Birmingham are, all services need to have viability. Think the issue needs some major creative thinking to get local libraries back on the map. It need to take account of today's society, not the past usage otherwise they really will be a thing of the past. And this should of course include services for that section of their customers who have access needs or specific needs (senior users). I loved my local library when I was young and although I still use our local library, I do most things at home via the internet, including all my reading. And yes, holding a real book in your hands is like nothing else. But let's face it, there aren't enough people who want to do that anymore to keep library services going.
What an excellent well thought out update.
Whether we like it or not, things are changing, more and more of what we see and do is "electronic" and digital based (be it via a computer, tablet, smartphone, TV or a combination of them all).
Probably in 50 years time there will be no such things as newspapers, books, CDs or DVDs.
Some well known magazines, like Newsweek, have already stopped producing a print/paper version and moved to a totally "online" version.
https://money.cnn.com/2012/10/18/news/companies/newsweek-print-edition/
More and more local newspapers are closing down, and over the next few years I would expect some of the major national newspapers to either close down or become just a weekly edition.
Less people are getting music, films or computer games on CDs or DVDs (for example Blockbuster has closed down) and more and more people "download" films, games and music using things like iTunes or Netflix or catch services like on Sky and Virgin or on a computer.
Probably in 100 years time none of us will need to go anywhere, we just do it all in front of the screens in our house. We order our food from the supermarket via a screen, we talk to our friends and family over a screen, we look at family photos over a screen, we read newspapers, books and magazines over a screen, maybe we even go on holiday by looking at far away places on a screen.
I am not saying I like or agree with all of this, but it is the way things are going.