Libraries foster community identity. No two libraries are alike. They are funded mainly with local tax dollars. Their collections are designed to serve the unique needs of their communities. Local history collections provide a direct link to the history and traditions of each community.
Libraries are a source of community pride.
From the earliest frontier days, libraries have been a symbol of culture and learning. Today, communities large and small are investing in new and refurbished public, school and academic libraries as essential resources in the information age. Many indexes such as Money magazine and School Match use the quality of local libraries as criteria in rating quality of life in local communities. For many people, the library is where they turn to learn more about their new community. For newcomers from other countries, many libraries offer English classes, foreign language collections and other services to help ease their transition.