A LETTER TO NEW HAMPSHIRE LIBRARIES

"This past year has been a year of tremendous growth for me both professionally and personally. After 15 years in library work, I have come to realize what a wonderful opportunity it has been for me to be of service to the people of my community. I love my job! I feel truly "called" to this work.

"After attending a READS conference entitled "The Library as a Community Center", I wrote an e-mail to the President of the N.H. Library Association expressing my personal satisfaction with library work and, in particular, the Reference and Adult Services (READS). It was at their conference that I discovered what "good work" is done for people in communities throughout New Hampshire at our local libraries.

"I was asked to join READS as a member of the board; and recently I accepted the responsibility as Treasurer for this group. In addition, I was appointed to the N.H. State Library Advisory Council representing NHLA.

"My whole attitude changed about my job and about libraries just by attending a READS conference! Our library is becoming the center of our community. We have used many of the ideas shared by other libraries at that conference; for example, home delivery of library materials, a community activities notebook, posting of senior services information and offering a library totebag to new patrons which is full of information about our town organizations. I don't think of myself as a "professional" librarian, but I have come to realize that all of us who love our jobs and our libraries are professionals. I urge you to become a member of the NHLA and, in particular, READS. If not all of your, at least make sure someone from your library is represented at the next READS conference and joins us in the pursuit of making good libraries even better!"