When was the last time you used a telephone book or the Yellow pages? Do you even know where you might find a phone book in your home? Many people don't know and a number of people don't use phone books any longer in this digital age. It seems that phone books have limited relevance and appeal for most people.
Personally, I still use the phone book on occasion. I use it to find landscapers, automotive repair, firewood, etc. I know I could do that online but I actually find that I can do it faster with the phone book. But I'm still a little bit "old school" so I like to hold on to some traditions.
Many communities are finding that phone books are a bit of a liability. I mean, they just appear on our doorsteps, we don't ask for them; and then most of them get thrown away and overwhelm landfills, not to mention that they waste resources and are not environmentally friendly. Well, I get that. But I still like having a phone book around. Maybe there can be a system set up whereby we request a phone book if we want one and those who don't won't be burdened with them.
Find out what's happening in Glendorawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The other negative about phone books is that anyone can advertise in them and when you, say, look for a good plumber, you are never quite sure IF you are getting a good plumber. Online, thanks to sites and services like Yelp, Angie's List and other feedback sites, one can get the opinions of others thrown into the mix when choosing a service or a professional. In that regard, I try not to rely on blind selection. I try to use people who have been recommended by friends and family. But when I need to find someone or something that will fix or help or improve my life, I will try a phone book first.
I seriously doubt that by the time she's a teenager, my three month old granddaughter will even know what a telephone book is. (Remember how quickly public phones and phone booths disappeared?) So maybe this entire discussion of the relevance of phone books is academic. But phone books are like a senile pet dog...they may not always get it right or know what they're doing, but they're kind of nice to have around.