Letters-to-the-Editor

Edit and submit these letters to the editor of the editorial or op-ed page of your daily newspaper. Check to see whether the paper accepts e-mail or fax submissions and be sure to follow up once you send the letter.

Dear Editor:

It's a well known, but often taken for granted fact. Libraries are part of the American dream, a place for education and self-help. The library is the rare institution that offers opportunity for people of all ages and all backgrounds. From finding a job to launching a business, from researching a paper to learning about the world, libraries help people get started.

What many people don't know, however, is that libraries are also changing and dynamic places. Where else can you have access to nearly everything in print and online all in one place? With access to the Internet, online databases and computer training courses, the library is at the forefront of the information age. And the good news is that there are still all those great books and magazines and journals you have come to expect and enjoy.

Perhaps the best-kept secret at your library is your librarian ­— who provides friendly, helpful advice and guidance on finding the best source of information, whether in a book or online. It's not an overstatement to say that librarians really are the "ultimate search engine."

People and places come and go. But the library will always be there as a source of inspiration and lifelong learning, changing and growing to meet our needs and the needs of our community.

I encourage everyone to take a moment to thank our librarians for the wonderful services they provide and to remind our (public/school/campus/government officials) that libraries provide a vital resource in our society.

Today is a great time to see what's new @ your library.

Sincerely,

(Name, title, daytime phone number)

Dear Editor:

A question for your readers: When did you last spend time @ your library?

If it's been a while, you'd probably be pleasantly surprised at how libraries have embraced the latest technological advances while maintaining the traditional programs and services that have made them one of America's most cherished institutions.

More than 200 hundred years after Benjamin Franklin introduced the first lending library, Americans are still flooding into libraries seeking the knowledge to make their dreams come true.

Today's libraries are not the quiet places you remember — they are dynamic and energetic places where the whole community comes together. Libraries provide children with their first exposure to books; teach parents how to safely navigate the Internet with their children; provide small business owners with information on how to turn a profit; help doctors research the latest medical findings; and provide students young and old with the skills they need to find, use and evaluate information.

As our world has changed, librarians have been there to make sure our libraries are up-to-date and viable for people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. Librarians are leaders in helping people find what they are looking for — in print and online. The personal, professional and friendly assistance they offer without any strings attached makes librarians truly unique.

Libraries have always been places of education, self-help and boundless opportunities and an indelible part of the American dream.

If you haven't been lately, come see what's new @ your library.

Sincerely,

(Name, title, daytime phone number)

(library focused)

Dear Editor:

Did you know that we are home to one of the most unique institutions in our democracy, one that is playing one of the most integral roles in today's information age? What is it? It's your library.

An enduring institution that's more dynamic than ever, your library has the tools to help you succeed, whatever your goals may be. Your library has books and CDs, computers and language classes, Web access and journals (highlight traditional and non-traditional services), and the friendly, helpful advice of a librarian to help you find the best source of information, whether in a book or online.

And we're not the only fortunate ones. Over 120,000 libraries across the US—in schools and universities, business and government offices, in rural and urban areas—welcome knowledge and opportunity seekers everyday. What are these visitors looking for? The same thing as you: a place to get connected—to their communities and to our world; a place of endless opportunity for all who seek it, regardless of age, income or background.

If you're feeling a bit disconnected, maybe it's time for you to find your place @ your library.

Sincerely,

(Name, title, daytime phone number)

(librarian focused)

Dear Editor:

With over 100,000 books, 45,000 newspapers, and 100,000 government documents published in the US each year, in addition to the 27 million sites on the Internet, you know the information you need has to be out there. Now, if you only knew where to start. How about with your librarian?

Always in the know with the most current information, librarians in public, school, academic, and special libraries work with everyone from students writing papers to new parents looking for the latest in childcare to high-level executives needing fast facts and figures. With graduate degrees in library and information studies, librarians are highly qualified information specialists, using technology, such as databases and the Internet, as just some of the tools of their trade.

And as people become less sure of their place in today's information age, librarians help them find it. They help to ensure all people have access to information and the skills to effectively access, use and evaluate information in all formats.

If you've lost your place under today's avalanche of information, your librarian can help you find it. Your search is easy. You'll find their unparalleled expertise @ your library.

Sincerely,

(Name, title, daytime phone number)