Why Libraries Still Matter

Last week I attended the Victor Villaseñor talk at the Palm Desert Library.  Standing in line to get in, I overheard a man behind me say to his wife, "I guess there isn't much point to libraries anymore when everything is on the Internet."  I started to turn around and introduce myself, when his wife piped up with something like, "Oh, no, these libraries are busier than ever.  You should see this library--there are tons of people here every day.  And the La Quinta Library?  You can barely find a place to sit there are so many people there."  I smiled to myself and her husband seemed surprised.
When we got in the door, we had another of many reminders of why libraries continue to be highly relevant.  In the first of two RCLS programs, Villaseñor (who had previously visited the Palm Desert Library in March 2004), author of half a dozen critically acclaimed books, including "Rain of Gold," spoke eloquently and often hilariously, of the power of knowledge, of the importance of cultural history, of the incredible ability of a few people in key positions (uh, think library staff) to make a huge difference in people's lives.  Over 200 people hung on his every word and after the program, they bought over 70 of the author's books and had them signed. 
This program was one of several that our libraries produced in January in connection with the Making A Difference project, a partnership with the California Council for the Humanities, designed to demonstrate that libraries are the logical sites for people to come together to consider and discuss the important things in life, like the ones that Mr. Villaseñor touched on in his talk. 
Where else but a library, can people of all ages, all backgrounds, come together in a community crossroads of learning, culture, entertainment and be encouraged to stay as long as they want to, borrow as many books as they wish to, and introduce themselves and their families to new ways of thinking and seeing the world?  Other places do some of these for some of these groups, but the public library brings it all together.  And the Victor Villaseñor talks--like all the many many great programs that all our libraries present--are a constant reminder to the public of of the huge and ongoing importance of libraries.