They see computers entering the library and extrapolate the demise of printed word. I ask these folks to consider snuggling up on the couch with a laptop or taking a good computer with them to the beach or on a backpacking trip. As some of my friends at Microsoft learned while developing the e-book, the convenience and relative inexpense of a book is tough to beat. To the original question, my answer is uniformly simple. Books will continue to be a significant part of any public library collection.
Electronic information is just another medium for transferring ideas and exchanging thoughts.
Just as libraries have added video, audiocassettes, paperbacks, magazines to our collections over the years, the Internet and CD-ROM formats provide additional mediums to convey thoughts, ideas, and information. The important issue is to know how to use the various media effectively. Librarians have always been information guides and I think our services are needed now more than ever. As the volume of information explodes and the formats change, you should expect your librarians to provide advice to help you find the best information sources, regardless of format, in the least amount of time. The Internet has certainly attracted attention in the past few years.