As we've all seen, Saddam Hussein's

regime has launched a campaign of misinformation on the Iraqi people.

The key to having an informed citizenry is by having a strong public library.

The libraries of Baghdad were long ago destroyed by wars and the Baath

party's efforts to "modernize" Iraq. Yet years of oppression

under Saddam Hussein's regime hasn't destroyed the vibrant spirit of intellectual

freedom that still exists in parts of the city. Once the war in Iraq is

over, it is my hope that the people of Iraq will have access to information

they never thought possible.

The importance of public libraries

in America is one of the few bipartisan issues. Everyone from Bill O'Reilly

to Michael Moore has voiced support for public libraries. Last year our

20,762 registered users at the Peachtree City Library stopped in over

200,000 times.

If they had bought, at $20

each, the books, audio books and videos they borrowed, they would have

spent $4,028,380 on their education and entertainment.

We offer our residents 68,500

volumes, a full schedule of programs for children and adults and, through

our membership in Georgia PINES, borrowing privileges at over 200 libraries

throughout state of Georgia.

April 6-12, 2003, is National

Library Week in America. Show your support of the concept of a free people

in a free land by visiting your local public library this week.

There is a famous quote by

Andrew Carnegie that says, "There is not such a cradle of democracy

upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where

neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration."

Jill Prouty

Library Technology &

Training Manager

Peachtree City Library