Maybe there needs to be a shift in how libraries operate? While having a physical copy is nice, I think a move to digitize at least a portion of the library, namely magazines and videos would help. It would be cool if I could log in to my local library using my library card and pick a book, magazine or video to borrow and have it auto-return. I know Amazon has implemented a system like this already this summer. Libraries could even offer in building e-readers with the entire library downloaded for browsing.
These posts make me miss the joy of running into the library while my mom waited in the car so I could check out another Animorphs book... good times. I think it would be just swell if Libraries would offer digital downloads of books to those with cards. They could probably implement some kind of self-deletion to get around silly copywrite stuff. I have no idea how libraries work :| If libraries could move away from being solely physical buildings and into the digital age they could be HUGE expanses of knowledge, as opposed to the pretty big expanses they are now. They should still stay physical, though. There are tons of folks without interwebs at home still.