Nancy Kranich is associate dean of libraries at New York University and former president of the American Library Association. With 61,000 members, the ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world. Its mission is to promote the highest quality in library services and public access to information. These are excerpts from a longer article Ms. Kranich wrote for National Library Week.
TODAY libraries are changing and dynamic places — virtually every public, academic and school library is connected to the Internet. Libraries offer an array of new technologies and resources including computer training, online databases, 24-hour-a-day remote access from home, digital online catalogs and more.
Of course, all those great books and magazines, videos and CDs are still available to explore and enjoy. But the library is no longer the quiet place many of us remember. From exhibits and classes to homework help and lectures, libraries are abuzz with programs and services that make them community hubs.
