Here's a story about an incredible change, quietly bursting upon us. Google puts books and newspaper archives online. Can't recall how many times I've wanted access to this kind of data, but found it just too inconvenient. How many books - out of copyright - are republished every year? That's a measure of demand. That business may go away. How many more that can't quite find enough demand to justify publishing? You will soon be able to read them all online, in the original, albeit with some advertising on the side of the screen.

I imagine we will soon be able to get old television programming too. Probably starting with the news and documentaries. We'll need more internet bandwidth, but YouTube points the way.

To be sure there will be lamentable losses. There are bookstores where I can easily browse for half a day. Warm inviting places with coffee, sweets, and comfortable overstuffed chairs. A welcoming atmosphere where you can drop in, grab a cup o' joe, sit, browse anything for sale, and buy something you find particularly interesting. I usually leave having bought more than I intended.

Libraries, too, are destined to face this change. My favorite 'local' library in suburban Denver has a couple of dozen daily newspapers and the Sunday edition of most major US cities. They offer more than a hundred other periodicals. Magazines on nearly any topic. They have books, of course, and lots in internet connected computers too. And comfortable chairs in bright, open, airy surroundings that provide respite from the din of daily life while you peruse.

It's rare to find anyone in the stacks. Lots of people drop in to read the periodicals, but the day the internet connection was down, the place looked pretty deserted.

There is also an important social aspect to these places. Where will we go?