Callie Crossley's keynote address

Ms. Crossley was introduced as a woman for all media. She is known for NPR, CNN, Beat the Press, and most especially for her speeches.

While she is not a librarian, she feels a deep affiliation to librarians and books. She discusses books daily, orders books for her profession and practically living at her local library.

She loves to visit libraries and attend talk held in those libraries. Especially at the Cape during the summer.

She is concerned that many academics in her field do not even have library cards. These well educated people believe that they can fulfill their information needs online (sound familiar?). Most educated people identify their relationships with libraries in the past tense. They buy their books online. They do not use libraries, yet they expect their students to use them. It is the responsibility of librarians to change this.

She grew up in Memphis and remembers being banned from certain libraries. The good news is that this has now changed and libraries welcome all patrons.

We all know that illiteracy is directly tied to poverty and crime.

Her colleagues were unaware of the recent library closing in Oregon. Outrage occurred after the closures. These libraries are mostly rural and were the primary link to information to people who might never have a chance to read or access information.

Libraries are in trouble. Saugus and Medway are among some libraries facing budget cuts. Communities are faced with tough decisions; keep law enforcement or their local library? What a choice! Librarians must advocate for libraries!

There is a plan but is it enough. Supporters of libraries must get involved through political methods. Librarians have put "mission before advocacy". In other words, we have so many worries with meeting our patrons needs that we may forget to protect our libraries.

Subtly , we can encourage people that libraries have wi-fi and the best reader-advisory. Libraries are now community centers and we need to let our communities know.

Ms. Crossley's idea of advocacy. Using catchy phrases like "save the cheerleader....save the world". This got a nice laugh! Can we come up with a catch phrase. Ultimately we need to motivate our supporters.

'It is not enough to have service...it is not enough to have technology...it is not enough to have teen rooms...etc." It is not enough to have the best programs! We need to tell our community! We cannot do this alone.

She finishes with "This is the time, Act now, and Save the Libraries!"