So many institutions have fallen by the wayside since the turn of the twentieth century, and perhaps even more during the early years of the twenty-first. Fraternal orders come to mind. At one point in our history gentlemen and gentlewomen of good cheer would seek each other out to form lodges where the better angels of their nature could be continually encouraged, but they only flourished at a time when there were less distractions such as television and the internet. Libraries, too, when confined to their traditional role as the custodians of the codex, enjoyed a steady yet orderly flow of clientele dedicated to deep reading and quiet contemplation. In those innocent times both Lodges and Libraries were seen as a positive influence on citizens, reinforcing the tendencies of humans interested in self improvement. It is a different story today. Now it appears youth is only interested in "selfies" and "improvement" they seek is merely an impressive number of "likes" indicated within online social media profiles. Neither fraternal nor learning institutions seem as relevant when fellowship can be established, and understanding confirmed, by the ability to connect with any self-validating group, be it ever so vile or sublime.
We know now that not every invention has been a step forward for mankind; one need look no further than the atomic bomb for a more obvious example. Perhaps it is time to reconsider this digital world the
Information Scientists have created that those millennials will inherit.
