Debra Oldenburg
Preschool Outreach Coordinator

It’s time to usher out 2007 and welcome in 2008.  Out with the old, in with the new!  Haven’t we all heard that phrase many times, especially when we are contemplating change?  There are many visible changes facing our world. In our country we will elect a new president.  Will someone of the same political party, the same sex, the same ethnicity, and the same religion occupy the office?  Most likely not.
The world environment and climate is in flux, causing people to rethink the cars they drive, the products they use, the food they eat.  The new buzzword is all about going “Green”.  Why not take a cloth reusable bag to the grocery store, or hang your clothes outside to dry, or walk a little bit more.  I even read that the incandescent light bulb will be phased out.  There is a “Forever Stamp.” Do you think that really means forever?  Most likely not.

Will there ever be peace in homes, in families, in communities, in cities, in states, in countries, in the world?  Most likely not.  I think the phrase, out with the old, in with the new, covers a plethora of areas.  I have mentioned only a few.

I started thinking of the many changes facing 2008 when I was reading an Internet library discussion site that asked the question, if your local library still purchased videos or if they were only buying DVD’s. If you are a patron of the library, I am sure that you have noticed changes taking place in the library from time to time.  Libraries make changes so that they can keep pace with society as a whole and meet the needs of the local community of library users.  Have you ever asked why do most people come to the library?  Is it for books, for computers, for movies, for programs, for information or for resources?  They visit for all of the above reasons and many more. 

We have experienced the changes in technology.  Most card catalogs are computerized.  Books can be found in many formats -  written, electronic or audio. It would be hard to find musical recordings on a vinyl record or cassette. Programs change, based on the interest of the community.  Digital cameras, web-casts, blogs, home pages, computerized check out, wireless access, electronic record management and so many more changes are happening all the time.  Worn out damaged books are replaced with new popular titles.  Dated, no longer relevant information is weeded to make room for the new.  So you see, in this small world of the library community it is a necessity to say, “Out with the old, in with the new.”