Libraries are relevant in every age. For as long as records have been kept, libraries have existed all the way back to at least the Third Millennium B.C. Now, that’s an ancient institution. Some ask today, do people even go to libraries anymore? What do we need them for? With the information superhighway at our fingertips virtually anywhere we are on any device we choose, how is it that the brick and mortar library is not only alive but thrives? The answer is as simple as three things:

1. People desire to connect with other people. Our libraries are community centers where people can meet, share, and participate with each other face to face. This physical human interaction, necessary to our survival, is being supplanted by the virtual connections that give us a momentary and fleeting feeling of connectedness with others. The virtual interactions, i.e. social media, are instant gratification that leave us hungering for something more while in person interactions sustain, satisfy, and connect us more deeply. The library is a center of personal connection and interaction.
2. The library is a gateway to information. The librarians are the gatekeepers. With all of the information available to us today, we need somewhere and someone to hold and guard the truth. Is that Internet site valid? How do I know that what I am reading about is factual and not just someone’s supposition on a topic? A librarian can help verify the information and help you look for solid sources backed up by credentialed authors.
3. The capacity to evolve with the times. The library is not a dusty institution. We keep up with the changing times to meet the needs of our patrons. E-books, more focus on popular fiction, less focus on certain areas of non-fiction, more programming and community events, coffee, a place to hang out, etc are all the ways in which we meet the needs of an ever evolving human race.

I believe that the library will exist for as long as the human race populates the earth. The “face” may change, but the “heart” of the institution will remain the same. To provide the public with a safe community place to openly explore all ideas, to enjoy fellowship with others, and to learn more about themselves and others in the world at large.