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Libraries: An Enduring Idea

spacer spacer Believe it or not, this simple idea was the campaign slogan Melvil Dewey used to become president of the American Library Association in 1890. Do you recognize his name?  Dewey would go on to have a profound impact on the development of libraries and is credited with the Dewey Decimal Classification, the most widely used library system in the world. 

Of course, a lot has changed since Dewey's days yet the spirit of his campaign motto still rings true.  Now, some 120 years later, Dewey would marvel at how 16,671 public libraries across the nation serve their communities as gathering places and storehouses of rich resources that promote literacy and lifelong learning.

One generation after the next has discovered how libraries improve the quality of life by providing access to information as well as educational and cultrural opportunities to everyone, regardless of their means.

Libraries proivde almost unlimited resources and inspiration. From books to computers and art to music, they are a source of knowledge to explore and learn about almost any topic.  Libraries open a window to the world, offering perspectives on other cultures, places and people. 

Families spend quality time at the library. Community groups come together at the library. And as they share public resources and spacs, people from different backgrounds and cultures naturally interact at the library, building mutual understanding and respect.  The public library is like a community loom, weaving the fabric of society with rich colors and textures. 

As Melvil Dewey might have dreamed, today's libraries are places to read, learn, connect and expand horizons.  The very essence of the public library is learning for a lifetime.

174
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80% of our $9 million dollar goal!

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