The Importance of Libraries
Most of us think of public libraries and harken back to our childhood when mom or dad took us to a children's program or a weekly visit to the public library where we collected a stack of books to take home to be read and re-read until the next week's visit. How important was it to do that?
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 was just one way of enticing a child to read and helping that child develop a love of reading. It was 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.
Recently in the Iowa legislature, there have been bills under discussion that would eliminate libraries as part of these "essential services." We would hope that as an informed society, our legislators would agree that libraries are definitely part of the integral framework of our cities' services and should be kept as part of the "essential services" offered to all of our citizens.
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 was just one way of enticing a child to read and helping that child develop a love of reading. It was 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.
Recently in the Iowa legislature, there have been bills under discussion that would eliminate libraries as part of these "essential services." We would hope that as an informed society, our legislators would agree that libraries are definitely part of the integral framework of our cities' services and should be kept as part of the "essential services" offered to all of our citizens.
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Annette Wetteland
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last modified
Jan 02, 2009 12:30 AM
