PLA Conference Kicks Off Downtown

More than 5,000 librarians are in Indianapolis this week for the annual Public Library Association conference.

It officially kicked off, Wednesday, at the Indiana Convention Center downtown.

Association President Carolyn Anthony says there is a false perception that libraries are flagging with the growth of the internet and online book retailers.

"The good news is more people are coming to libraries than ever before," she said.  "Libraries are so engaged with their community.  We have really been helping people through this hard economic time." 

She says there has been an evolution at libraries across the country to be more of a community resource, particularly for low income and elderly individuals.

"If you want to apply for a job, if you want to obtain many government services, so much that you have to do in everyday life you have to do on a computer and if you don't have internet at home, then you come to the library and we help people do what they have to do," she said.

She says connecting with younger people by helping them develop job skills is a growing focus of libraries.

Bryan Stevenson is the Director of the Equal Justice Initiative and is the conference's keynote speaker.  He believes libraries offer unique opportunities for future generations.

"Libraries with a vision, with a conscience, can actually do things around exposing communities to narratives that they aren't going to find as easily on the internet.  They are not going to be at the head of the blogosphere," he said.  "I think that is an important way to help this country reflect on the things we have to reflect on."

The conference runs through Saturday.

"I think libraries are trying to relate to whatever the broader issues are in the community," said Anthony.  "It might be economic development.   It might be health.  It might be immigration.  But, whatever is the big concern locally, libraries are going to play a role in that."