Steven Holt: “as an educator and avid reader, it's always a special pleasure to visit a library or a museum. Libraries safeguard our…”

“as an educator and avid reader, it's always a special pleasure to visit a library or a museum. Libraries safeguard our freedom and keep democracy healthy. Museums and libraries preserve the past and offer brighter futures to all of us. They are true community assets. That is why I was pleased to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 13, the Museum and Library Services Act. Libraries are often referred to as the 'People's University.' It is a fitting name. Libraries provide all of us with free access to a fabulous wealth of information. In this increasingly technology-driven society, they speak directly to what we call the Digital Divide. A recent survey by the Department of Commerce found that our libraries are the No. 1 point of access for those who do not have Internet access at home or at work. Today, 90 percent of public libraries have some kind of Internet connection. Research also shows us that Americans visit libraries 3.5 billion times each year; 1.6 billion items are borrowed annually from public libraries; and research librarians answer 7 million questions every week. Clearly libraries are responding not only to the daunting challenges of the Information Age and to the changing needs of our communities, but they are continuing to serve all of their traditional roles as well. Libraries are also true community centers.”