It's very amusing as someone from the UK reading how Luddite you think us to be! I know my fridge is a hole in the ground kept cool with ice from the nearest glacier but...
I get it about libraries, assuming you're referring to filing systems, that'll probably be a funding thing. Only once the cost is low enough would it be worth updating the system. Particularly so if that's public sector libraries.
You reference 2005 though?! Only 21 years ago & you talk about being behind the times lol!!