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April 20, 2007
Happy National Library Week!
National Library Week seems like a great time not only to celebrate libraries, but also to consider the relevance of libraries in our modern world.
Libraries today are enjoying a golden age in which public, school, college and university libraries are flourishing not only within the physical confines of bricks and mortar, steel and glass, but also in the continuously expanding Internet universe.
The facts speak for themselves: library use is up nationwide. More than 2 billion items were checked out last year, and librarians serve nearly 1.8 billion visitors annually. Circulation is calculated a little differently these days -- we not only count the number of times a book has gone out, but also the number of times an article or an ebook has been downloaded. We not only take Reference telephone calls, but we answer emails and provide a ton of information on our website.
Rather than threatening our libraries, the age of technology has only complemented our services and expanded our reach. This is because libraries are about more than information and data sharing.
Libraries are about community.
They provide us with a physical gathering place, a crossroads for people of all ages, ethnicities and economic means, complete with trained information professionals - librarians - fostering inquiry and assisting with interpretation of information both onsite and online.
Libraries and librarians are more relevant than ever, providing a 24/7 information delivery service. Our multi-faceted, multicultural, multilingual resources are providing a bridge to their best conceivable future for millions nationwide. And, of course, admission is free.
It's democracy in action. There's nothing obsolete about that.
Posted by Michele at April 20, 2007 1:06 PM
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