I'm not used to being in a position where people hang on my words and do the things that I suggest immediately. It would be great if my kids did that. In addition to working out the logistics of the new library, Burger also hopes to change the way the library presents itself to the public. The world is heavily oriented towards a consumer society, and if that is going on, we need to figure out how we compete. Because, says Burger, public libraries symbolize a community's values.
Libraries are a critical part of what happens in any community.
They contribute to the quality of life and become reasons why people relocate to certain communities. I think of libraries that are well-funded and look great, but that doesn't mean they are critical to the community like Princeton's library. This is a very valued library, and we are fortunate that so many people believe in it. One of the greatest problems facing libraries, today, says Burger, is not shrinking municipal budgets, but a shrinking pool of people willing to enter the library profession. We're not attracting the younger people because libraries aren't paying that much.