For some time to come, the library will order and circulate many books about Sept. 11.

Such a staggering blow takes time to process. While some facts about the event are undeniably clear, the search for the meaning of those facts may never be over.

Donna Jones Morris, President of the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL), announced that Colorado librarians met June 4 to begin planning changes in library services as a result of recent state budget cuts. CAL represents more than 1000 public, college and university, school, and other library members in Colorado.

The older I get, the more I realize how shaped I was by early influences.

One of those influences was the late, great science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein. I discovered him at our school library when was I was about 12 .

Some might say, "Yes, of course. What young people read molds the pattern of their thinking."

Several people have sent me information about a recent court case: some librarians at Minneapolis Public sued the library for sexual harassment. The reason: widespread patron viewing of pornography on Internet terminals.

Some of the folks who sent me this were gleeful: liberals want unfiltered terminals, but think when other people look at a picture that might offend a feminist, it's sexual harassment. Pick one!

Others were more libertarian: these librarians are arguing FOR censorship. Isn't that a betrayal of all they stand for?