If you think that public libraries are old fashioned, or the internet has made them obsolete, the truth is the internet and other technologies have made public libraries busier than ever. Our Internet computers (with MS Office), and children's educational computers were used over 28,000 times last year. An important part of the library's mission is to close the "digital divide" that exists in our community. It is important to recognize that many people cannot afford their own computer and software, as well as a high speed internet connection. Recent trends in e-government and job applications only being accepted electronically have made this area of service more important than ever.

We still see very strong "traditional use" of the library. Last year, the three Dare County Libraries loaned over 217,000 physical items-books, magazines DVD's and Book on CD. That equals more than six items for every man woman and child that lives in Dare County.

Story Hour and Summer Reading Program attendance by children has consistently increased over time. Last year over 10,000 children attended one of almost 500 programs offered for children. Our staff make the programs fun, but they are really educational in nature. We call our Story Hours "growing readers" programs. In addition to fostering a love of books and reading in small children at an early age, children in Story Hour learn listening, sharing and other social skills. Recent studies have shown the importance of early reading to childhood brain development and language acquisition.

When children are out of school and do not read they can lose on average one month's worth of instruction. Imagine your child starting the new school year in August a full month behind! Researchers often call this "the summer slide". The Summer Reading Program is designed to be flexible and a lot of fun for the children, and parents can rest assured it is educational and helps your child maintain their hard-earned reading skills, so they can enter the new school year better able to learn

Use of public libraries is changing, and the Dare County Library Foundation is allowing us to change with the times. In 2012, our Regional Library System became the first in the State to lend 3M Cloud Library eBooks to our customers. Our initial collection and platform fee was paid for with foundation monies, no public funds were used.

At this same time in our library's history, when change and innovation is occurring so rapidly, our public funding is simply unable to keep pace. State funding for our Regional Library System is at its lowest level in 15 years! County funding is flat; not even keeping up with inflationary factors.