Libraries play an important role as community partners. The public library is the one location in town where everyone is welcome and there is no admittance fee. It is the home of society’s collective information and the place where individuals have access to resources that open doors to opportunity. Libraries change lives by putting people and information together.

A strong public library is important to the local economy. Public Libraries play a role in early childhood education by providing programs that foster literacy and school readiness. They connect with other institutions and associations to improve the educational and technological skill level of the workforce as well as offering access to online job searches and applications. Access to subscription databases in the library lowers the barriers to market entry for entrepreneurs and supports startup businesses.

With the advent of digital technology, access to information is free from physical barriers. We begin to believe that all of the world’s information is available with the click of a mouse. It’s easy to believe that Google has all the answers, but it just isn’t so.

Family histories and other records that are unique to each community are preserved by local historians and they are housed at the library. Recently volunteers from the genealogy society have been helping inventory and organize the research conducted by local historian, Nash Odom. Thanks to everyone involved in that project.

We are in the last weeks of Summer Reading. Participants should turn in their reading logs next week at the summer reading program. Fish the Magish will be coming to Robeson County on Aug. 1 with performances at 11 a.m. in Lumberton, and at 2 p.m. in Pembroke.

Remember a great way to enjoy your summer is to relax with a book.

Catie Roche is the director of the Robeson County Public Library. You can reach her at croche@robesoncountylibrary.org. Roche is reading “The Bird Sisters” by Rebecca Rasmussen.