This is my first article as Director of the Liberal Memorial Library. I came to Liberal from Harlan , Iowa where I was the director for 12 years. I am excited to be here and look forward to meeting and getting to know the members of the community. The library board, staff and I are dedicated to providing the best possible library services and we welcome any comments or suggestions you may have.

If it's been a while since you have visited the library, I think you'd probably be pleasantly surprised at how libraries have embraced the latest technological advances while maintaining the traditional programs and services that have made them one of America 's most cherished institutions. Today's libraries are not the quiet places you remember - they are dynamic and energetic places where the whole community comes together. Libraries provide children with their first exposure to books; teach parents how to safely navigate the Internet with their children; provide small business owners with information on how to turn a profit; help doctors research the latest medical findings; and provide students young and old with the skills they need to find, use and evaluate information.

At the Liberal Memorial Library, you will find all types of materials to help you with your information needs. The library has books and CDs, computers and Spanish language materials, Web access and magazines, DVDs and video cassettes, programming for all ages, audio books on cassette and CD, and friendly, helpful staff who are committed to helping you find the best source of information, whether in a book or online.

I would like to share some facts about America 's libraries that may surprise you. The information is from the American Library Association.

• Americans go to school, public and academic libraries more than twice as often as they go to the movies.
  
• Reference librarians in the nation's public and academic libraries answer more than seven million questions weekly. Standing single file, the line of questioners would stretch from Boston to San Francisco.
  
• Federal spending on libraries annually is only 54 cents per person.
  
• A 2002 poll conducted for the American Library Association found that 91% of respondents expect libraries to be needed in the future, despite the increased availability of information via the Internet.
  
• There are more public libraries than McDonald's - a total of 16,220, including branches.
  
• Americans spend more than three times as much on salty snacks as they do on public libraries.
  
• Americans check out an average of more than six books a year. They spend $25.25 a year for the public library - much less than the average cost of one hardcover book.
  
• Public libraries are the number one point of online access for people without Internet connections at home, school or work
  
• 95% of public libraries provide public access to the Internet.

People and places come and go. But I believe libraries will always be here as a source of inspiration and lifelong learning, changing and growing to meet our needs and the needs of our community. If you have not been to the library lately, I encourage you to stop by and see what's new at your library.