Waterville Public Library

Bookends
Text Box: With the New Year arrives great news for two institutions essential to America for over 200 years—libraries and democracy. A recent Pew study at the University of Illinois, just released, concludes that Generation Y, those tech savvy, gadget-connected 18-30 year olds among us are, as a group, the heaviest users of libraries. This is really good news, as studies in the 1990s had warned that Americans in this age group were not terribly enthusiastic about the future of libraries and books in a digital age. Now, despite round-the-clock on-board access to the Internet nearly universal among them, through cell phones and other wireless devices, Gen-Y is turning up in libraries to satisfy its Text Box: information hunger and, also, to engage socially. This fresh crop of literate and inquisitive voters can only be salutary for our democratic republic, which is chagrined by generally abysmal rates of turnout for its elections. Jefferson averred, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. An informed citizenry is at the heart of a dynamic democracy.” In recent pithy memoir, “The Seventeen Traditions” Ralph Nader shares how his Lebanese parents infused their children with a critical love for the written word, i.e., maintaining a healthy skepticism about sources of information. Receiving Text Box: instruction at school, he was encouraged to weave learning and experience together at home and in the public library; thereby nurturing family, civic improvement and business values. Nader described his library as a “sanctuary for insatiable curiosity… with inviting open stacks, literally grottoes of mystery and wonder”! Through our collections and programs, we will continue to strive in 2008 to excel as a center of knowledge, engagement and wonder, too, for all generations in our community. Incidentally, -- especially for those of us beyond Generation Y-- stay tuned for details about a new weekly Library shuttle bus service we are planning in Text Box: Bring a snack and join us in the program room with your whole family to enjoy a movie on the big screen. Text Box: The First Movie Night: Thursday, January 31st @ 6pm. Daddy Day Camp(rated G) Text Box: Family Movie Night will continue every last Thursday of each month. Text Box: Family Movie Nights

Welcome to 2008!
Text Box: January/February 2008

Hours

Sunday—Closed

Monday—10-5:30

Tuesday—2-8:00

Wednesday—10-5:30

Thursday-2-8:00

Friday—10-5:30

Saturday—10-2

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Dates Closed:

February 18th—President’s Day

New webpage
Design


Our webpage is having a makeover. The new webpage should be up and running by January 18th. Our web address will stay the same. We hope it will be easier to navigate and a little
easier on the eyes.

Let us know your
comments.