Last week, I talked about who we are and what we stand for. This week I'd like to focus on where we're going. Despite the hysterical predictions of pundits that the book is dead, that public places are obsolete, and that everything can be found for free through Google, the plain truth is this:

Every now and then, I think it prudent to let the readers of this column know what the library is and what it stands for.

The Douglas County Libraries is an independent library district, established by the voters of Douglas County in 1990. Its boundaries are identical to those of the county itself. The vast majority of library funding comes from a property tax (of four mills per year), also established by county voters. In 2008, annual library revenues will be just over $21 million.

Read to Your Children!

Recently, library staff began work on a handout for parents to help them select books for their children. I just got the latest draft of it from Andrea Logan, one of our Youth Librarians, and I thought some of the research she cited deserved a broader audience.

Recently I ran across an article debunking some longstanding medical myths. Among them is the idea that "We use only 10% of our brains." In reality, according to WebMD Medical News, "Most of the brain isn't loafing. Detailed brain studies haven't found the 'non-functioning' 90% of the brain."

I found that strangely comforting. OK, we could be smarter, but not 10 times smarter.

Then I read a very pleasant book, written in a light, breezy style, by one Cordelia Fine. But it was on a delayed fuse. The title of the book is, "A Mind of Its Own: How Your Brain Distorts and Deceives."