The thing is when I was a kid before Internet, you were limited to what you learned in school, learned on TV, learned from your library… you may not know entire categories of media existed because your library might not carry them and no one you knew could tell you they existed. And interlibrary loan existed, sure… but you had to know what to look for to begin with, and hope they kept the card catalog (which was actually a bunch of typewritten cards in a cabinet) up to date with what was available systemwide.

“Ah yes, this book on magnetism may or may not be what I’m looking for. Librarian, please send for this.”

“It will take two weeks to arrive. Come pick it up then.”