Wednesday, April 9, 2003

By profession I am a librarian and as I watch the war unfolding in Iraq, I can't help but think how lucky we are, as Americans, to live in a free society where we have free access to information at public libraries. America's public libraries are the cornerstone of our democracy.

As we've all seen, Saddam Hussein's regime has launched a campaign of misinformation on the Iraqi people. The key to having an informed citizenry is by having a strong public library. The libraries of Baghdad were long ago destroyed by wars and the Baath party's efforts to "modernize" Iraq. Yet years of oppression under Saddam Hussein's regime hasn't destroyed the vibrant spirit of intellectual freedom that still exists in parts of the city. Once the war in Iraq is over, it is my hope that the people of Iraq will have access to information they never thought possible.

The importance of public libraries in America is one of the few bipartisan issues. Everyone from Bill O'Reilly to Michael Moore has voiced support for public libraries. Last year our 20,762 registered users at the Peachtree City Library stopped in over 200,000 times.

If they had bought, at $20 each, the books, audio books and videos they borrowed, they would have spent $4,028,380 on their education and entertainment.

We offer our residents 68,500 volumes, a full schedule of programs for children and adults and, through our membership in Georgia PINES, borrowing privileges at over 200 libraries throughout state of Georgia.

April 6-12, 2003, is National Library Week in America. Show your support of the concept of a free people in a free land by visiting your local public library this week.

There is a famous quote by Andrew Carnegie that says, "There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration."

Jill Prouty

Library Technology & Training Manager

Peachtree City Library