Beltsville has one, so does Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Laurel, Mount Rainer, Bladensburg, Bowie, and New Carrollton. College Park, however, does not. And what is this thing that College Park lacks, but every other town around us has? A library.

I know: there are several libraries within the boundaries of College Park if you count those on the University of Maryland campus. I do not, for the simple reason that, although they are "open" to the public in the sense that College Park residents can walk in and browse their periodicals and spend time among the stacks, residents can't borrow any books* unless they are affiliated with the university in some way.

Of course, public libraries offer more than the ability to borrow books. In addition to lending, The Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) also offers media in other formats (DVDs and music CDs), meeting rooms, study rooms, exhibits, and events and programs. Even more important, perhaps, is that public libraries can be a refuge for folks who need an escape or respite. For example, the PGCMLS has programs for teens that range from "homework help" and opportunities for volunteering to programs to help young people deal with "real issues" (suicide, family crises, and so on) and "diversions" (access to information and local programs on sports, hobbies, and other interests).

Granted, with at least three libraries (Beltsville, Hyattsville, and Greenbelt) so close, the question remains: does College Park need its own library? As you might expect, I think it does, and for the following reasons:

1) Like community centers, parks, and playgrounds (College Park residents don't have to travel elsewhere for these…), libraries are among the primary ingredients of a good community in that they offer access to information on just about everything, including such practical matters as the intricacies of state and local government and advice on how to find a job.

2) Libraries also have a symbolic value that promotes the importance of learning and education. I know, we've got the "flagship" campus of the state's university system at the center of our town, but again, that only means something if you have access to it, and not everyone does. To residents unaffiliated with the campus, it's little more than a collection of pretty buildings and a source of traffic congestion on game days. And speaking of sports, I can appreciate athleticism as much as the next guy (I'm a huge hockey fan), but it'd be nice if College Park offered as many opportunities for intellectual pursuits as it does for the athletic variety. Simply put, if we have tennis courts; a golf course; a driving range; bike/jogging paths; baseball, football, and soccer fields; and a frolf (aka: Frisbee golf) course, then we ought to have a public library.

3) No one doubts the importance of reading to children, but not everyone has the means to build an extensive in-home library. A well-stocked public library can help fill that void and thus be a great boon to College Park's children—and further solidify our position as one of the best places in the United States to raise kids.

* According to the University of Maryland Libraries website, individuals can become a "friend of the libraries borrower" for an annual fee of $150.00.

Postscript

While writing this screed, it occurred to me that there might be a reason College Park lacks a public library. The presence of the university might have spurred the county to use its resources elsewhere, or maybe someone, somewhere decided a long time ago that, given the proximity of other libraries, College Park would remain library-free. If that's the case, then I respectfully request that those decisions be revisited.

Smith is a resident of North College Park and treasurer of the North College Park Citizens Association.