Editor, The Transcript:

The third annual Friends of the Norman Library Better Books Sale, from May 2 to 4, was the most successful ever. More than 1,600 people attended and thousands of books found new homes. We would like to thank the community of Norman, the organizations that sponsor Friends book sales, our team of volunteers, and the staff of The Norman Transcript for helping make this event possible. Proceeds benefit the Norman Public Library.

The people that make these books sales happen, many of us seniors, are all volunteers who over the course of the year, spend thousands of hours sorting, pricing, packing, unpacking and arranging the materials generously donated by the Norman community. We move hundreds of thousand pounds of books. There are never enough words to say thank you.

Why do we do this? Every volunteer has a different reason for helping, but for most of us it's a love of books and a strong desire to help support our library. Personally, we feel that the Norman Public Library is one of our community's most valuable resources.

Books open doors to the world, but today's libraries offer books and so much more. Public libraries offer opportunities for people to explore -- through books and through the Internet. Public libraries offer opportunities for people of all ages, occupations and income levels to acquire basic educational or life skills, pursue cultural and recreational interests and engage in lifelong personal development.

One library patron discussing the new Norman Public Library summed it up so well. "This place has been instrumental in our children's development."

A vote for the library on May 13 is a gift to ourselves, to our children, to their children and to our community. Vote Tuesday: Yes for Books, Yes for Building.

SIMM RUDNICK

LORI RUDNICK

Friends of the Library 2008 Book Sale co-chairs