There is a civic space like the one Benjamin Barber envisions the public library. Although the public library cannot be the entire answer to America's need for civic space and community building, it can make a substantial contribution toward meeting these needs. Current societal trends including home schooling, telecommuting, early retirement and general longing for connectedness make the library the optimal public meeting place. The role of the public library in educating children makes this institution especially important to the future of our communities. Everyone is welcome at the library from age zero on up.
Children are central to the American public library.
At the public library children are offered intellectual stimulation regardless of their economic status. Pre-school story hours are a considerable contribution to the education of young children. Summer reading programs keep children reading and learning when they have no access to formal education. Studies have shown this is vital if newly acquired reading skills are to strengthen and develop. Seventy-five percent of America s public libraries offer some level of access to the Internet for their users.