By Zandra Norris

Ms. Kristin Dorland takes part in her classes choosing red dot books, and looking for a book to read during free time. Photo by: Zandra Norris

Technology is overflowing the earth and tradition is falling into the past. The old fashion letter writing has been replaced with the well-known e-mail and the telegraph with the phone call or text message. Imagine what the world is planning to obliterate next. Schools have already started replacing books with laptops or iPads. It is definitely becoming a new generation.
People have started to wonder what will happen to the books that are being replaced. Some have the idea that they will be collecting dust hiding away in a library untouched. Others believe that people will never lose interest in books and reading regardless of the upgraded and available technology.

Teachers and students were asked how many books they thought were checked out by high school students at the end of every week before gaining possession of their own MacBooks. Stephanie Boyle and Ms. Kristin Dorland estimated the numbers would be between 275-500 books.

The same teachers and students were asked how many books they thought were checked out by high school students weekly after receiving the laptops. Mr. Nathan Mayer, Boyle and Ms. Dorland estimated the numbers 250+. Timothy Gomez on the other hand went with the numbers 150 or less. According to the library staff, before the MacBooks came, the number of books circulated were 250+. After the MacBooks came, the current number of books circulating is still 250+, which would say that the laptops have no effect on whether or not the library books are collecting dust. As it has been stated, they are not. When asked whether the laptops will decrease the interest for readers in the near future, Mayer replies, “Usage will pretty much stay the same,” and he does not foresee any changes.

Mr. Nathan Mayer literary assistant takes time out of his busy day to engage himself in a book of his choosing. Photo by: Zandra Norris

With times changing and laptops being used in the classrooms to limit paper, people begin to wonder if the teachers are soon going to be moved from the Red Dot books to the Nook application feature on the MacBooks in the near future. “Nope,” stated Mr. Mayer, the school’s Literacy Assistant, “Scholastic is a nationwide reading program and there is no need to seek other options.” On the other hand, “As a teacher I would certainly allow my students to pursue either option to complete their Red Dot requirement — checking out a book from the library or downloading an e-book to the Nook application” said English teacher, Ms. Kristin Dorland.
Students seem to be looking forward to the upcoming possible changes as well. Stephanie Boyle said that she would look forward to the Nook application because “it would be easier for kids to read.” Other students seem to have a different view of the idea, “It would be so much easier than going to the library, but then again, we might have more tech problems,” Gomez responded.

No matter how much technology takes over the earth in the near future, or how many new or exciting gadgets come into existence, it has been stated that reading will remain a stationary hobby and technology will not overtake it. There is no sign of dust on the books in the high school library, and according to those interviewed, books will never go extinct but remain a part of learning and imagination.