Libraries Are Changing

February 12, 2013

If you haven’t noticed, libraries are changing. We are reinventing ourselves as community centers that provide bestsellers, free eBooks, and access to technology. Gone are the days of scary-quiet mausoleums. We want the Library to be a friendly, warm place where we can respond to your needs.

We want you to be able to come and get that bestseller, but we also want to be able to provide you with good information. We want the Library to be your first stop for that novel you can’t wait to get your hands on, and we hope that while you’re here, you may discover something else that interests you. Whether you find a program, a storytime, or, perhaps, even literature while you’re here, we hope we’re doing our best to put you first.

Recently, I read an article in the New York Times that says all this and more. The author, Karen Cullota, compares libraries to book stores, and states that this is the new model that many library systems have begun to follow. She points out that, "we need to remember that it’s your library, not ours, and you’re paying for it." I hope we as librarians and library staff remember this, and I hope you feel like our most important customer.

Jessica S.
Colbern Road Branch