Library of the World

When I think of the positive effects of technology, I think not of texting or emailing. Interpersonal communication has been facilitated by technology, no doubt. But for me, this change doesn’t fundamentally alter my relationships  or social interactions. Where technology really matters is access to information.

I debate competitively. In the course of a year, I’ll attend four or five debate tournaments outside of the state (starting this Friday) and to prepare for tournaments, I do huge amounts of research. It’s hard to fathom the amount of time I spend doing research. What strikes me, though, is what I can access from my laptop. Within the confines of my room, I can access the vast majority of the scholarly literature ever published on any topic. From my room, I can read viewpoints—conveniently translated into my own language—from across centuries and continents. The sheer quantity of information astonishes me when I think about it.

Frankly, though, if my experience with the internet were confined to scholarly pursuits (researching, for instance, the constitutionality of military trials for foreigners), I’d get terribly bored. It is interesting to note not only that the internet is the world’s premier repository of scholarly literature but also that in general, the internet is the world’s greatest library. Combining traditional information, written by an expert author, with crowdsourced information such as blogs and forums, the internet produces an astonishing volume and quality of information. When I marvel at the quantity of information, that includes my access to art, music, fun facts, and graphics.

Much of the discussion of the internet focuses on its interpersonal impact. I think this is a mistake: frankly, I feel that online relationships and interactions have only a fraction of the impact and import of real, in-person contacts. But where the internet is truly astonishing is that it has created the greates library of all time: confusing, perhaps; containing some inaccurate information, sure; but what greater boon for education, for enlightenment, and for thought could there be than this infinite, free, and accessible public library of the world.