A couple of newspaper articles over the last few days have highlighted the "sagging" circulation rates for branch libraries in Beaumont. (You can find the articles at TLA's Texas Library News page (http://www.txla.org/html/NewsClips.html). In some important ways, the articles are positive because they point to the value of libraries and the need for local governments to support them. However, it is sad that the issue of libraries' declining relevance is stated almost as a given in some corners.

One of the key reasons for the statewide library visioning process (Transforming Texas Libraries) is to get us "in front of" rather than "behind" this question. We all deal with the growing threat of perceived irrelevance; I expect that looking at what libraries should do (and how they should be doing it) over the coming years will be a big step in helping us turn this tide.