Well it's official, in October I will step down as New Hampshire State Librarian to assume the position of Connecticut State Librarian. As I reflect on my past 8 years as your State Librarian, five words come to mind - economy, technology, Internet, cooperation, and opportunity. Each has had a major impact during my tenure.

When I came to Concord the state was entering a very deep recession, one that would effect all of state government for years to come. Although I have tried hard not to whine about the budget situation, the State Library, like many other state agencies and local communities saw budgets stagnate and decline. For the State Library this meant the reduction or elimination of some services. One of the hardest things for me during the worst of those years was having to lay off so many fine employees. But despite the pressures, I am pleased we did not retrench. Instead we streamlined, regrouped and even managed to introduce new services. I am particularly grateful to the staff of the State Library for working together through those tough times and for the patience and understanding of the library community. As luck would have it, for the first time since I have been at the State Library, I have been able to submit a budget for the next biennium that is not less than the previous year. As I depart, the fiscal outlook for the State Library is good. My successor should enjoy a slightly higher budget beginning next July.

The first computer I had when I started at the State Library was an IBM 8086, one of only a handful of personal computers in the State Library. I am pleased to report that by the end of this year, there will be pentium computers on all desks in the State Library, the North Country Office, and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Not only has the use of computers at the State Library grown over the past eight years, but the number of libraries with computers has grown dramatically. Federally funded programs such as Project Access provided more than fifty small libraries with their first computers. This fall public, school, special, and academic libraries will receive funding for public access computers through the new Library Services and Technology Act program. The challenge ahead is to see that there are adequate public access computers in every library in the state. Over the past eight years there have been major changes in the technology behind the New Hampshire Automated Information System. The database has grown to over 1.2 million titles and interlibrary loan activity is at all time highs. This fall the Galaxy system will be paid off and consideration will have to be made for the next generation system. Unlike five years ago, there are many new options for the NHAIS to consider. One of the great certainties about technology is that it will continue to change rapidly.

The biggest impact on libraries over the past eight years has come from the growth of the Internet and the development of the World Wide Web. WWW.whatever was not even in our vocabulary when I became State Librarian. Now, I can't imagine library service without it. When the Internet began to appear on our radar screen, the State Library began planning for a gopher (remember them) to access state information. As planning progressed, the Web became a reality and soon we were able to deliver WEBSTER, the state's official world wide web site. I am very proud of this site and grateful to the many talented members of my staff that have developed WEBSTER into the important tool it is today. WEBSTER now must become more dynamic to enable the public to do business with state agencies. The State Library needs to continue its leadership role in this important arena.

Cooperation has been at the heart of what I have tried to do at the State Library. I am grateful to the library community for not only supporting the State Library, but for cooperating with the Library in so many ways. Because we have all been able to cooperate on the most important issues, I think we have developed a very strong library system in New Hampshire. Cooperation has also come from other state agencies and New Hampshire organizations. The State Library has ventured beyond the traditional library community to build strong partnerships with many groups. But these partnerships have always been with an eye to meeting the information needs of the citizens of our state. The Family Resource Connection is an example of a partnership between state agencies, local organizations, and the State Library which is having a very positive effect statewide. It is also a partnership that has demonstrated the role of libraries in meeting information needs. It is my hope that more of these types of partnerships will be developed, not only by the State Library, but by local libraries as well.

It is probably too much of a clich‚ to say that the challenges we face are opportunities. But I do believe it. While I have not always been able to turn every challenge into an opportunity I have certainly tried. There are many challenges still facing the library community. One of the greatest is that of the school funding crisis. The money that will be needed for the state to address some sort of solution will certainly threaten the funding of new services by other state agencies. Talk of limited state government also poses a challenge. The state has more than doubled in population in the past twenty years and the demand for services has greatly increased. Yet agencies such as the State Library have some 20% fewer employees today than twenty years ago. New technologies, such as the World Wide Web also challenge state government to do more - not less. But in all of this I see great opportunities for libraries. Funding of a statewide database licensing program should be seen as part of the equity in education solution. The development of web based services are opportunities for all types of libraries to show leadership. Who better understands the organization and access to information than librarians.

The public library standards are also an opportunity for the library community to come together and advocate for standards that will better position libraries. I hope that libraries will take the challenge of establishing guidelines that might cause a library a little pain and see them as an opportunity to make gains in the type and level of service they provide. One of the greatest challenges we all face is in staying well trained and knowledgeable about the new technologies and trends in library service. But here to is a great opportunity to raise the level of librarianship, particularly in the eyes of funders.

The search for my successor will begin soon. When the choice is finally made, I hope that you will all support the new State Librarian and continue to work with the state library. I also urge you to be open and frank with my successor, as you have been with me. I have great confidence in you all.

Many, many thanks for your many kindnesses.

Ken Wiggin