Whereas once we saw our future as a nation of farmers, miners and trappers, we are now entering an age where the ability to appropriate and use knowledge is the defining characteristic that will determine our standard of living and the contribution we shall make to the global community. This is not only our vision, it is the vision articulated by our Federal Government and endorsed by the Hon. John Manley, Minister of Industry. Informed citizens are a defining characteristic of a modern democracy.
Knowledgeable employees are a defining characteristic of a modern workforce.
More and more businesses are expecting job applicants to supply resumes in an e-mail format. Sadly, this ability to access information and knowledge is also becoming a definitive quality of the widening gulf between haves and have-nots within our society. The role of modern public libraries is more than just a repository of books and other literature. They are an important mechanism to ensure the equitable access to knowledge and information in this new society in which we find ourselves. They have an invaluable role in ensuring that the poor are not disenfranchised in this new age that is upon us.