News

The Value of Libraries
Commentary By Tracie Lammers

One of my fondest memories as a child was reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder series. I was introduced to Ms. Wilder at my library and what a wonderful library it was! It was by no means like the libraries today.

This wonderful little library was located in an old dusty storage room of the Buchel Air Base club. This library was not automated, there wasn't a card catalog and it was run by volunteers. Even with all these faults it offered a great service to the community. At the time Buchel was a very small Air Force Base. My school had only 20 students and we had no library. Our library was formed out of necessity and became a viable part of the community.

Studies show that increasing your child's reading time by 37 minutes a day outside his/her school day will increase the child's reading ability tremendously. These weekly visits to the library with a variety of books to read is just one way of enticing a child to read and helping that child develop a love of reading. It is the beginning of the child's development both socially (to be in a group with children of similar ages) and intellectually. It is well documented that the ability to read empowers an individual to learn and develop increased job skills.

In recent years, technology has become an important part of libraries and our society in general. Learning to use technology through using an electronic library catalog or coming to libraries to practice using various software programs or learning to search online databases are of tremendous value to society, especially to those who cannot afford computers or the connectivity costs associated with the Internet.

The American Library Association states that the library is important "because it is the only institution in American society whose purpose is to guard against the tyrannies of ignorance and conformity, and its existence indicates the extent to which a democratic society values knowledge, truth, justice, books, and culture."

When it comes to the development of a community and determining whether it is viable, a vibrant public library is one of the main attractions for new companies and new employees. Libraries are part of the economic development package presented as part of the "quality of life" of a community. A public library is definitely part of the "essential services" that a city provides, both educationally and economically.

The libraries of today and the future offer more than just books. Our library has an abundance of resources that everyone can benefit from. Here are just a few of the great resources that we have to offer:

--MARVEL Databases, FAX Machine, Copier, Internet Access (Wireless Internet Access is available),
-- Children's Story Hour,
-- Children's Summer Reading,
-- Young Adult Book Club,
--Senior Teas.

These are just a few examples of the programs that we have to offer. We hope to keep continuing to offer these valuable services to the citizens of Gray.

Tracie Lammers is a Reference Librarian at the Gray Public Library