National Library Policy

Should the US have a national library policy? In The Atlantic, David Rothman argues for the development of a national digital library: Why We Can't Afford Not to Create a Well-Stocked National Digital Library System, "Old-fashioned literacy, in fact, rather than e-book standards, should be the foremost argument for a national digital library system--as a way to expand the number and variety of books for average Americans, especially students. Without basic skills, young people will not be fit for many demanding blue-collar jobs, much less for Ph.D.-level work, and economic growth will suffer."

At the very least, some kind of library lending standard that will allow libraries to standardize on a format for storage and inter-library loans as well as allowing device manufacturers to have a standard to display could be excellent for readers.