Public libraries: the perfect public service

There was something magical about the place; not just as a font of centuries-old knowledge but as a conduit to touch the lives and the stories of other people. It was hands-on time travel before the computers, the Net or cell phones connected us all to past, present and future. That was ions ago.

Today, I still love public libraries; still get a sense of coming home each time I enter one; still appreciate the institution as a whole and the underrated people who work there. Why, in my opinion, are public libraries and librarians the perfect public service?

1) Librarians are, by and large, a courteous lot. We all know good customer service is as rare as good taste these days, but you can still find it at your local library. Librarians are also smart, having immersed themselves in all forms of knowledge for most of their training and much of their lives.

2) For a few cents on our tax dollars, where else can you get a cool, quiet place to meditate in the summer and a warm place in the winter; no-hassle use of computers; somewhere to bring your children and keep them entertained as well as informed; helpful assistance with research and off-the-wall questions; magazine swap sites (FREE) and cheap book sales?