Libraries As a Litmus Test

     You can judge a town’s quality of life by visiting its library.
     During the afternoon, an author spoke to a woman’s book club gathered at the library in my town. Two attendees sported party hats. They celebrated the one year birthday of our new library building.
     Later that evening, a chamber music quartet performed in the same room.
     Statistics offer a quality of life clue. Since the opening of the new library building, thousands more books have been checked out.
     Another quality of life indicator was evident outside. Children’s bicycles were parked in a bike rack. The bicycles were not locked.
     A new library building, cultural events, and increased reading by the public, suggest that my town is a good place to live.