Librarians at the Susquehanna County Library just heard about a new Internet-based company called booksfree.com. The concept is that subscribers borrow books through the mail. Far from being "free", the service starts at $13 a month for 4 books at a time.

"We thought that was pretty funny," said Administrator/Librarian Susan Stone, "since we offer a very similar service, Books-by-Mail, for our definition of free: zero dollars a month! But we don't limit you to paperbacks, and almost any title that we don't have, we can request for you--also for REALLY free!"

Library services are supported through tax dollars, and librarians are about the most efficient spenders of public money anywhere. For about 40 cents a month in local taxes, and 48 cents a month in state funding, every resident of Susquehanna County is entitled to borrow not only paperbacks, but also hardcovers, videos, cassette books, CDs, magazines, and more. That same amount also covers free high-speed Internet access, Microsoft Office programs and training, and games at each location (there is only a charge for printing or buying a diskette or blank CD). But wait...there's more! For that same 88 cents a month you have access to a real live librarian to help you with any kind of question you may have; your children and grandchildren are provided with story times and Summer Reading programs; teachers and students are supplied with materials to help support classroom education; and library service is provided to daycares, nursing homes, and the jail.

Your state taxes also support Inter-Library Loan, the service that allows you to borrow just about any library item in the state that's not held locally; and the POWER Library databases, which provide access via the Internet to millions of magazine articles, eBooks, photos, health information, and other educational and recreational content for adults and children (normally very far from free).

"We do wish the state would be able to restore library funding to its previous levels (about 62 cents a month per person)," says Mrs. Stone. "That extra 14 cents--which adds up to about $60,000 for our library system--really made a big difference to us!"