--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're competing with everything: the…" description: "\"We're competing with everything: the beach, the mall, bookstores. Libraries are in a transition right now, caught between two forces, the old ways and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-callahan-83273_beach_we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beac_2264673.jpg" --- # We're competing with everything: the beach, the mall… ![“We're competing with everything: the beach, the mall, bookstores. Libraries are in a transition right now, caught between two forces, the old ways and technology. Libraries are under a lot of pressure to provide both.” quote by John Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-callahan-83273_beach_we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beac_2264673.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-callahan-83273_beach_we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beac_2264673.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-callahan-83273_beach_we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beac_2264673.jpg) > “We're competing with everything: the beach, the mall, bookstores. Libraries are in a transition right now, caught between two forces, the old ways and technology. Libraries are under a lot of pressure to provide both.” [John Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-callahan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Libraries must balance traditional services with digital demands, navigating competing expectations. **In simple terms:** Libraries juggle old and new roles. Key Takeaway Embrace both heritage and technology. Themes library digital transformation public service Mood reflective optimistic Type advisory strategic When to use this quote - public programming - digital lending - community outreach - budget planning Key Concepts Information access community hub technology integration Questions to Reflect On - How can libraries prioritize without losing identity? - What digital tools best serve community needs? A Different Perspective Balancing both may strain resources and staff. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beach/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Bookstores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookstores/) [Bookstores Libraries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookstores-libraries-878206/) [Both](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both/) [Caught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caught/) [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forces/) [Libraries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libraries/) [Libraries Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libraries-lot-5223635/) [Libraries Transition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libraries-transition-5223633/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Mall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mall/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Old ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-ways/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Provide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provide/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Technology Libraries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology-libraries-5223634/) [Transition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transition/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ways/) ## Related quotes > [“Even before I learned what I was, books were my escape from the world. This place . . . bookstores, libraries . . . they’re the closest thing I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/even-before-i-learned-what-i-was-books-were-my-escape-from-the-world/) [Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/) > [“Browsing through the shelves in bookstores or libraries, I was completely happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/browsing-through-the-shelves-in-bookstores-or-libraries-i-was/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“He liked bookstores, and libraries too. They had a sacred, peaceful hush, like graveyards without the shadow of death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-leigh/he-liked-bookstores-and-libraries-too-they-had-a-sacred-peaceful-hush/) [Garrett Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-leigh/) > [...bookstores, libraries... they're the closest thing I have to a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/bookstores-libraries-they-re-the-closest-thing-i-have-to-a-church/) [Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/) > [Working Holiday' goes out to those earning their pay and a half: from retail employees at the mall and the kids selling popcorn at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manila-luzon/working-holiday-goes-out-to-those-earning-their-pay-and-a-half-from/) [Manila Luzon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manila-luzon/) > [We need to change the focus from celebrating sales at the mall to celebrating the significance of President Washington's birth to the birth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-wolf/we-need-to-change-the-focus-from-celebrating-sales-at-the-mall-to/) [Frank Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-wolf/) > [A while ago I said that, 'You know, I like a guy - he doesn't have to be all rich and famous - he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/a-while-ago-i-said-that-you-know-i-like-a-guy-he-doesn-t-have-to-be/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [Top 10 Things to do at the Mall 10. At the bottom of an escalator, scream MY SHOELACES! AAAGH! 9. At the stylist, ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/top-10-things-to-do-at-the-mall-10-at-the-bottom-of-an-escalator/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [I been to many malls from state to state,But I've never been in, say, one this great.I hate to say, about the other shopping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-markie/i-been-to-many-malls-from-state-to-state-but-i-ve-never-been-in-say/) [Biz Markie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-markie/) > [“As such, it was clear that its only purpose was to remind the arriving shoppers of nature and beauty—presumably the same nature and beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurelio-voltaire/as-such-it-was-clear-that-its-only-purpose-was-to-remind-the-arriving/) [Aurelio Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurelio-voltaire/) > [Mini mall bendo city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/mini-mall-bendo-city/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [Go to the mall on Black Friday, they said. You will never come out alive, they said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/go-to-the-mall-on-black-friday-they-said-you-will-never-come-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember the first time we met You was at the mall wit yo friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyaz/remember-the-first-time-we-met-you-was-at-the-mall-wit-yo-friend/) [Iyaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyaz/) > [I was shopping at my local mall in Dallas that I've gone to for like three years now. And everyone was like "Oh my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-kimball/i-was-shopping-at-my-local-mall-in-dallas-that-i-ve-gone-to-for-like/) [Cheyenne Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-kimball/) > [Ladies, if you're at the mall and you think your man is looking at other girls just remember: If your man is at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/ladies-if-you-re-at-the-mall-and-you-think-your-man-is-looking-at/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) ## More by John Callahan > [This is a feminist bookstore. There is no humor section.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-callahan/this-is-a-feminist-bookstore-there-is-no-humor-section/) [John Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-callahan/) > [Sex is like air; it's not important unless you aren't getting any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-callahan/sex-is-like-air-it-s-not-important-unless-you-aren-t-getting-any/) [John Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-callahan/) [Explore all 3 John Callahan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-callahan/) ## More Beach quotes > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) > [I've said many times before that Pebble Beach is a wonderful thinking-man's golf course. That is why it is such a great U.S. Open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-ve-said-many-times-before-that-pebble-beach-is-a-wonderful-thinking/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Here about the beach I wandered, nourishing a youth sublime With the fairy tales of science, and the long result of Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/here-about-the-beach-i-wandered-nourishing-a-youth-sublime-with-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I love going to the beach and just sitting and watching the sunset by myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tayshia-adams/i-love-going-to-the-beach-and-just-sitting-and-watching-the-sunset-by/) [Tayshia Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tayshia-adams/) > [Carolina beach music," Dupree said, coming up on the porch. "The holiest sound on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/carolina-beach-music-dupree-said-coming-up-on-the-porch-the-holiest/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [I like trekking and staying in tents, meeting new people and eating good food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tripti-dimri/i-like-trekking-and-staying-in-tents-meeting-new-people-and-eating/) [Tripti Dimri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tripti-dimri/) > [The biggest part of painting perhaps is faith, and waiting receptively, content to go any way, not planning or forcing. The fear, though, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/the-biggest-part-of-painting-perhaps-is-faith-and-waiting-receptively/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [If I'm on holiday, I'm active on the beach, I play tennis, I run, I swim a lot. It's just about making the workouts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-swanepoel/if-i-m-on-holiday-i-m-active-on-the-beach-i-play-tennis-i-run-i-swim/) [Candice Swanepoel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-swanepoel/) > [The holy grail is right here in this gem of a book. Tosha Silver’s wisdom goes down as easy as a mint milkshake and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-rankin/the-holy-grail-is-right-here-in-this-gem-of-a-book-tosha-silver-s/) [Lissa Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-rankin/) > [Couples without kids have each other, their friends, families, and Siri to talk to. It's not like they're quarantining themselves in an underground bunker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/couples-without-kids-have-each-other-their-friends-families-and-siri/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [They had me doing Beach Boys remakes and all that. I was basically a marionette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leif-garrett/they-had-me-doing-beach-boys-remakes-and-all-that-i-was-basically-a/) [Leif Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leif-garrett/) > [When did an old white guy yelling at me, telling me what to think become news? What gives him the right to tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ling/when-did-an-old-white-guy-yelling-at-me-telling-me-what-to-think/) [Lisa Ling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ling/) > [Yes, there was one thing that I missed not being able to do - walk on a beach. I've always had this romantic image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/yes-there-was-one-thing-that-i-missed-not-being-able-to-do-walk-on-a/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) [Browse all 2,185 Beach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beach/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're competing with everything: the beach, the mall, bookstores. Libraries are in a transition right now, caught between two forces, the old ways and technology. Libraries are under a lot of pressure to provide both.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Callahan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-callahan/we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beach-the-mall-bookstores/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beach" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-callahan/we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beach-the-mall-bookstores/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-callahan-83273_beach_we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beac_2264673.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-callahan-83273_beach_we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beac_2264673.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/631/john-callahan-83273_beach_we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beac_2264673.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We're competing with everything: the beach, the mall, bookstores. Libraries are in a transition right now…” — John Callahan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Callahan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-callahan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We're competing with everything: the beach,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-callahan/we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beach-the-mall-bookstores/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-callahan/we-re-competing-with-everything-the-beach-the-mall-bookstores/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```