Because I have gotten so extremely old, even the 60's doesn't seem that long ago to me. I remember when, if I wanted to pursue a special study, I had to go to the library, often even order in special books to be shipped there. I didn't have the money or time it would take to travel to where the information was or buy the special books.
It seems to me it is a very special blessing straight from the Lord that these books are on the net, and some of them even in the public domain. I can even have many translations of scripture and put them up side by side to compare them. I never learned Hebrew or Greek, comparing the different ideas from different translations helps me so much get a better idea of what the original language was portraying.
Some of these posts have given wonderful ideas for special uses of the actual book, but I am thankful for technology and the way it has helped me learn what the Lord wants me to know!