From Flickr User: Library of Congress

When I was at the grocery store the other day, I overheard a couple of grandparents having a conversation:

Grandpa: What are we going to do with the kids all week?
Grandma: You sound like you are not looking forward to having your grandchildren stay with us.
Grandpa: Sally, it has been a long time since we ran after three young kids.
Grandma: Don’t worry – I already ran by the library and checked out movies, some books and a book on CD for the drive to Lake Michigan on Tuesday. The library also has a magic show on Wednesday and storytime Thursday night.

Kind of makes you smile doesn’t it? This conversation illustrates everything we love about libraries. Our public libraries have something for everyone! Andrew Carnegie recognized the far reaching appeal and overall community resource that the library represents – it is evident in the very design of his buildings. The library is the heart of the community. Think about it. What other building in our community do you observe both curious toddlers and esteemed seniors sharing resources with both a sense of purpose and camaraderie? The library brings people together by providing resources that are enjoyed by all ages, genders, races, and religions.

Libraries of today provide a central place for information, entertainment and community activity. You can see it when you attend an author presentation, a travelogue, cooking demonstration, story time or stop to admire an art, culture, or craft display. It is one of the most community responsive fundamentally unifying public institutions still standing. We urge you to support this institution by voting YES for the CADL renewal on the August 3 ballot.

It is without question that CADL is devoted to enhancing our community.  This is immediately obvious when one reads the library’s mission, which states, “Committed to the values of a democratic society, the Capital Area District Library shall provide access to ideas and information that support continuous learning and enhance the quality of life.”  CADL uses its thirteen branches, bookmobile, services to home bound patrons, and online presence to promote a higher standard of living in our local community by providing free access to information to all of its patrons.  Additionally, the library continues to grow in relevance, with dramatic increases in all areas of usage.

In 2009, CADL checked out 2,729,000 items.  This is a 41% increase from the 1,930,300 items checked out just four years earlier in 2005.  These items include everything from children’s books to test taking materials to popular DVDs.    CADL also provides access to ideas via technology, and recognizes the need for free access to computers to bridge the technology divide.  CADL has met this need by increasing the number of public usage computers by 83% in the past decade.  In 2009 alone, 284,000 hours were used on the public computers, and 30,730 hours of free WiFi were accessed within the library system. (Source: http://cadl.org/news/adding-value)

These statistics are impressive, and alone prove the vital nature of the library to its service population.  The most convincing statistic of all is this: 1,551, 300 visits were made to Capital Area District Library branches last year.  This is up 69% from the year 2000, shortly after the library district was formed.  These over 1.5 million visits were made to check out materials, use public access computers, attend library programs, and to ask library staff for assistance finding information.  Without CADL, Ingham County would have far less opportunities to educate itself on any available topic of knowledge.  Support CADL, and support a public institution which provides an invaluable service to your community. Vote to renew the Capital Area District Library’s millage August 3.