President's Column: Possibilities

A quote caught my eye when I read “How the World Sees Us” in the November/December 2011 issue of American Libraries Magazine . Author Monty Joynes wrote “And here is where I most respect the high office of the librarian. Above the restrictions of budgets and the frustrations of hierarchical administrations, the librarian has the possibility of changing lives. Like great teachers, great librarians meet needful individuals at the precious moment of choice. The right book at the right time is often a nexus to individual destiny. The great librarian listens, senses the need, and has the reading experience to recommend what is crucially appropriate to that reader.” I underscored “the librarian has the possibility of changing lives” thinking what a wonderful charge this is to librarians.