Counting the number of people who come through our doors is only one metric we use to determine whether or not we are successful. Certainly the 355,000 hits on our website help to tell our story. Or the 150,000 public uses of computers at Durango Public Library. Or, the more than 500 programs that are offered annually at each of our libraries. Or the 19,000 e-books and e-audiobooks available to anyone with a library card.

When e-books first hit the market, the media headlines spread doubts about the future of the library. For librarians, we understood this was just another format to deliver our information – it did not signal the doom of our libraries. We have watched the demise of many formats, from cuneiform to VHS.

May I suggest another headline? How about: “The various ways libraries promote literacy, cultivate community and expand your horizons.”

Shelley Walchak

Bayfield