[Publib] "entertain our diverse community"

[Jesse Ephraim]

>What happened to just being a library and being the best at doing that?

As with all public institutions, libraries have to adapt to the changing
needs of the populace.  For libraries in particular, expanding the range
of services is a good way to keep people coming back.  Changes in the
ways information is distributed, library closings, sinking funding
levels, etc. all indicate a need for us to refocus our concept of what a
"library" should be, and how best we can serve our patrons.  We all love
books, but if patrons don't use us, our libraries risk getting shut
down, and then nobody has access to the book collections.

Remember that every kid that comes in to play a computer game gives you
an opportunity to create a new booklover.  You can think of computer
games, DVDs, etc. as the library equivalent of "loss leaders" - they
bring more people into the libraries, and there is a good chance that
over time they will begin to explore the book collections, too.

Jesse Ephraim

Adult Services Librarian
Southlake Public Library
1400 Main Street, Suite 130
Southlake, TX  76092
(817) 748-8247
jephraim at ci.southlake.tx.us

"A circulating library in a town is as an evergreen tree of diabolical
knowledge."
     - Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816)