Ask A Genius 1228: What is the near future of libraries?
Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/12/30
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is the near future of museums?
Rick Ronser: Carole and I visited The Broad Museum in downtown Los Angeles today. It’s not very large. We only spent about half an hour there because we didn’t purchase tickets for the temporary exhibition. Instead, we viewed their permanent collection.
My kid has worked in various museums, and there’s undoubtedly a place for museums in the future. Even though much of what museums offer is becoming increasingly accessible virtually, there were plenty of people at The Broad today, even on a weekday. Many were likely young people off from school for the winter break.
Museums will always have a role as spaces where people can see and engage with real art and artifacts. While virtual versions of museums will enable remote exploration, nothing replaces the tangible experience of seeing original works in person.
We saw Jeff Koons’ work, including giant versions of balloon animals and a porcelain sculpture of Michael Jackson with his pet chimpanzee, Bubbles. The piece was crafted in gilded porcelain and was life-sized or slightly larger. We also saw a table three times life-size—about ten feet tall—and matching oversized chairs. Other highlights included works by Ed Ruscha and Roy Lichtenstein, the latter known for his pop art renditions of comic strips from the 1960s and beyond.
Modern art emphasizes concepts as much as technical execution. Most of the pieces we saw demonstrated a high level of craftsmanship. Having worked in art schools, I’ve seen plenty of poorly executed abstract or modern art lacking skill and compelling ideas. Many of these artists won’t become successful because they lack both strong concepts and the technical ability to realize their visions effectively.
At the museum, we noticed many couples trying to impress one another with how cultured they were. It seemed like part of a social ritual to validate their sophistication. It was as if they were saying, “Aren’t we cultured and attractive?” blending a sense of intellect and allure. People appeared to use the visit to affirm their social value to one another.
While every city likely has such couples, Los Angeles has more than most. The city attracts people seeking to leverage ambition and attractiveness for success in entertainment. Partnering with someone with a similar drive and a willingness to defy conventional norms can be advantageous. Los Angeles is full of individuals who might struggle in traditional careers but aim to succeed in the entertainment industry. Many fail and leave, but some persist, and being part of a dynamic, optimistic couple can improve their chances.
Apparently, these couples also frequent museums. Museums remain vital as places where people can appreciate culture and demonstrate intelligence and sophistication.
Jacobsen: So we’ll have museums for quite a while—indefinitely. What’s your favourite part about museums?
Rosner: I liked this one, and Carole did, too, because it was highly curated. It’s not a large museum and doesn’t have a vast collection. However, everything it had seemed relevant to the world and the times. I appreciated that it was concise and that the pieces were well-chosen.
If you go to a large museum covering the 19th century, you might see hundreds of paintings and sculptures. This can be overwhelming and reduce the impact of individual work. In contrast, everything felt more impactful at The Broad because we probably saw fewer than a hundred pieces.
What do I like about museums? My favourite thing is that you share a cultural language when you visit one museum, it is like a book. You can appreciate what other people who have experienced the same “book” have to say about it. There are far fewer museums than books, so the overlap with others who’ve visited the same museum creates a cultural touchstone.
Rosner: What’s your favourite thing about museums?
Jacobsen: That they exist. I like museums in the same way I like librarians—they represent something distinctly human-made.
Rosner: But librarians and libraries are in a tough spot.
Jacobsen: Yes, libraries must adapt because people don’t read as many books as they used to. Plus, there’s an overwhelming number of new books published every year.
Rosner: If a book isn’t a well-known staple, like Stephen King’s Carrie, and it was written before 1990, it may never be checked out again.
When Carole worked at a high school, she often brought home retired books. The librarian had to review and remove books—even pristine ones—that hadn’t been checked out since the 1970s to make room for new titles.
Librarians and libraries will continue to exist, but they’ll need to evolve to reflect modern patterns of consuming information. I don’t go to libraries for the same reasons I used to. Nowadays, I often look for graphic novels because I don’t have the same focused attention span or the time I once did.
Before COVID, I used to read between sets at the gym, which annoyed other gym-goers. Even though I’d only read for about 20 seconds at a time, it bothered people. The same folks who’d spend three minutes scrolling on their phones between sets would see me reading and think, “This guy’s treating the gym like a library.”
Since COVID, I’ve stopped reading at the gym. I get in and out quickly to avoid unnecessary exposure. When I read, I go to the library and look for novels, but I still gravitate toward graphic novels or books that are easy to read. If I open a book and see a dense 300-word paragraph, I know it’s not for me. I prefer books with shorter, more digestible sections.
Jacobsen: That’s understandable. Reading habits have changed for many people.
Rosner: Absolutely. People are no longer accustomed to strenuous reading.
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