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The article reports on the debate over whether libraries are obsolete held as part of the Harvard Library Strategic Conversations. Those who claim that libraries are obsolete have argued that this is so because libraries act as institutions of remediation, but in the 21st century, the deficiencies libraries are trying to fill no longer exist. The author argues that libraries are not obsolete because they are still needed to fix the education system, the economy and the world's democracies.

The article offers the author's insights on the collaboration of Oregon libraries to serve people who lives and works in Oregon through L-net, the state's reference service. The author says that 300 people from 50 Oregon libraries contributed answers for over 168,000 questions. He mentions that 50% of L-net visitors are students who ask for help in finding resources for school assignments. He adds that Oregon libraries collaborated on virtual reference service due to its cost-effectiveness.

The article describes the effort of the Oregon State University (OSU) Libraries to create a Natural Resources Digital Library for state residents. In collaboration with the OSU Institute for Natural Resources, the Web of the digital library initiative has been planned to be called the Oregon Explorer, a natural resources digital library. This is intended to offer the citizens with an easy access to information. It has been noted that the goal of the digital library is to empower people to be active and have concern with regards to its natural resources.

The article features the Estacada Public Library in Estacada, Oregon. It took years of talking while numerous committees formed to take on specific tasks. It took expanding the Estacada Public Library's service district, the financial support of individual donors, grant awards and the passing of a $1.9 million bond. But most of all, it took visionaries who recognized that a library, especially in a small town, represents hope for the future. The library space offered the community eight computer stations, narrow aisles and a teen section in a closet. The children's area was a small cubby-sized corner, with room for one or two children to play. One restroom with one stall served everyone who visited.

The article discusses the life and achievements of librarians Cornelia Marvin Pierce and Mary Frances Isom in Oregon. Isom was the first director of the Multnomah County Library, the first public library in the state and the only fourth county library in the U.S. in 1902 when it began. It could have easily been the Portland Public Library, a city-operated library, the prevailing governance model of the time. She rejected the notion that reading was only for city folk and lobbied the Legislature in 1903 to amend the public library law. On the other hand, Pierce was described by a contemporary as a human dynamo with a mind that works like harnessed lightning. She had the strong belief that not only was public library service for everyone.

The article focuses on the launching of the Oregon Sustainable Community Digital Library (OSCDL) at the Portland State University Library in Portland, Oregon. The digital library is created to be a central repository for an access of historical planning documents within the area. The collaboration among the university, library, state and municipal agencies in this common goal has made the project more significant. Making the digitalization of vital planning reports and images from the 1960s through 1990s has been the latest goal of the project. This is in line of its vision in making information accessible regardless of physical location and off-site storage.

The article presents the author's experiences as an interlibrary loan supervisor at Oregon State University (OSU). There is one main library and two branches and these three bodies constitute the Oregon State University Libraries. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a unit in Access Services and it is responsible for coordinating lending and borrowing activities for ILL and branch and remote services. It is reported that during the fiscal year 2004-2005, the OSU Libraries received a total of 104,600 requests. According to the author, her whole day is ushered along by MS Outlook, as it is a tool for managing due dates for pending tasks, and it also contains the calendar and e-mail. After lunch and tired of checking e-mails, the author gets something from her planned list done.

The article informs that the first Oregon State Librarian, Cornelia Marvin Pierce, exemplified Oregon Library Association President's theme of thriving on change and embracing possibility. It was to embrace possibility that Cornelia left a good job with the Wisconsin Free Library Commission in 1905 to come to Oregon. In 1905, Wisconsin was decades ahead of Oregon in developing public library services. Many public libraries were already well established throughout the state, but in Oregon there was only one tax-supported public library, in Multnomah County. In order to establish library services throughout the state, Cornelia had to travel over bad roads on horse-drawn stages. She managed a voluminous correspondence with women's clubs and other citizens interested in establishing libraries. She was tireless in giving advice and assistance to all who needed it. The only goal that Cornelia did not accomplish, one that she desperately sought, was a new home for the State library. The opportunity for a new State Library Building would not come until the old State Capitol was gutted by a fire in 1935.

The article examines the challenges facing public libraries during a difficult economic period. According to the author, hard economic times call for a focused effort to highlight what is at stake, particularly when competition for financial support becomes tighter. She states that library advocates should ensure that there is continual flow of energy within the facilities to emphasize public libraries' importance. She adds that it takes a certain courage to advocate for public libraries.

The article features the Cornelius Public Library in Cornelius, Oregon. The Library occupies a 3,025 square foot area inside the City Hall and has a collection of approximately 21,500 items. It is a city library within the Washington County Cooperative Library System (WCCLS) that shares collections, electronic and central resources and some funding. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the current population of Cornelius is 11,260 with almost 40 percent Hispanic. Cornelius, whose motto is the "Oregon's Family Town," was renamed in 1871 from Free Orchards.

The article focuses on the author's aim to provide great library service for children and to help create a better future for them. During her career, she has held a variety of leadership positions in libraries and in professional organizations, while trying to make a contribution on the state level. Her initiatives included the use of video to help libraries capture local information, establishment of the Nutmeg Award for children, and maintenance of summer reading programs. She is also interested in assisting parents and caregivers in Oregon and many other states maximize children's chances to succeed in school by investing in the preschool years.

The author reflects on the impact of library shutdowns in Oregon. He cites the one hundred and thirty-two public libraries which deliver services to the estimated 839,000 Oregonians living in the rural areas of the state. 85% of the libraries serve populations under 30,000. He discusses how they manage to survive and thrive in the current environment.

The article features the Alsea Community Library in Oregon. Alsea is extremely fortunate to have a thriving town library: a branch of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. A local library is a place that encourages community identity and awareness, catalyzes local action, and can be a forum for ideas promoting self-sufficiency and sustainability both for individuals and for the village. Since the 1960s the Corvallis Library has provided at least minimal outreach to several Benton County locations. First Alsea had a rotating collection of self-checkout books on a shelf in a local store, then it graduated to Book Wagon service, then upgraded to a real library in 1975, using an old bank building owned by Alsea School District.

The article focuses on the establishment of a virtual repository of state publications by the Oregon State Library. The program has been realized through the cooperation of the state agencies and libraries around the state. The organizers are planning to use a centralized content management system. According to the author, the said program increases access of citizens in the works and information related to the government. In addition, it has been observed that repositories enables the collection of important details and leaves no gap in its information.