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Libraries have always been centers of learning, but today they are much more than books and magazines. Libraries are active hubs of information technology and destinations that encourage community.
Antioch’s library has been a fixture of our community for 40 years. But the city’s dramatic growth over the past two decades requires new responses as geographical boundaries have expanded and residents have become younger and more diverse. Today nearly 40 percent of our local population is under 18. Equipping them for success is one of our most important responsibilities.
Now we have the opportunity of a generation to shape Antioch’s library services for the digital age. Through a community and library partnership, we will transform the original library on 18th Street and the new community center in Prewett Park into “Gateway Centers for Learning.”
Modeled after bookstores with coffee shops and modern high-tech libraries, these innovative facilities will stimulate learning with state-of-the-art computer workstations and educational play zones for children and families. They will bring the world’s knowledge to our neighborhoods through electronic databases. And they will enhance our community life in comfortable “living room” spaces for reading quietly or learning together interactively with friends. |
