Libraries in the 21st Century

Published in the Ketchikan Daily News, March 2017; written by Pat Tully

The past 50 years have brought about profound changes in the way we live and work, in large part due to the technology revolution. Work has become more efficient and fast-paced because of the vast amount of data that can be quickly shared via email, text and social media. Our daily lives have been similarly transformed. We carry phones that allow us to contact each other, search for information, and pass the time--all with one device. Through phones, tablets and other devices we have access to enormous numbers of books, movies, music, articles and other material.

So why do we need libraries? Here's why:

- Most of us have the desire, devices and means to access the Internet on our own--but not everyone. Some--through personal choice or financial necessity--do not have such access. Without it, applying for jobs, attending training, and finding information on schools, home improvement, hobbies and other things, is very challenging. Libraries level the playing field, so that people who do not have personal access to the internet can still use it to function in this technology-dependent society.

- The internet offers a bewildering variety of information and recreational choices that change and multiply continuously. This expanding virtual universe can be difficult to navigate, particularly for those who use it infrequently. Library staff have the experience and training to help people quickly find the information they need.

- Libraries bring together people of like interests, concerns and needs by conducting programs open to people of all ages, races, backgrounds and economic circumstances. They also provide rooms so that nonprofits and other groups can get together in a comfortable, well-equipped meeting space.

- As they always have done, libraries offer spaces for reading, study and quiet contemplation--an oasis in a world that is often busy, noisy and full of distraction. Not all spaces in the library are quiet, nor should they be! But quiet spaces do exist in the library and the silence is respected by staff and patrons alike.

- And of course, libraries offer books (print and electronic), magazines, newspapers, music, DVDs, and many other resources. People use these to learn and to relax, to explore new interests and improve their lives.

The Ketchikan Public Library has been designed to serve the needs of borough residents in the 21st century, and statistics show that people are using it in a variety of ways. The report just presented to Ketchikan's City Council and available in its March 16 (2017) meeting agenda shows this clearly. Traditional use of the library to borrow books and other materials is holding steady, and program attendance, meeting room use and computer access increase every year.

I would love to meet you and hear your thoughts about the library! ...