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Libraries are the great equalizer — a point sharpened Saturday as U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx and N.C. Rep. Jonathan Jordan completed penciled in visits to the Appalachian Regional Library’s Ashe County branch.

From the recent and archived copies of the Watauga Democrat to the books and programs that educate, inform and entertain a community — all at no cost and no barrier to entrance — libraries provide a vital and unique function in the communities they serve.

Indeed, so vital is that function that Foxx noted that libraries should be supported at all levels of government.

We agree. An informed populace is not only the best barrier to government corruption, it is the ticket that moves a society forward in terms of its education, economy and quality of life. And no organization fulfills the function of information as well as a public library.

We are pleased that our government officials from federal to local offices found visiting the Ashe County Library a valuable use of their time, but we are more pleased that Saturday’s wasn’t just a cursory or honorary visit: Jordan noted that this library is a frequent destination for his family.

Also noted Saturday was the statistic that more than half the population of Ashe County holds a library card. Few, if any, other businesses, agencies or organizations can boast this. Even the largest churches at which we assemble on Sunday cannot make this claim.

If there is any bastion of equal opportunity, it is the public library, and the Appalachian Regional Library system, from Wilkes to Watauga, is one of the finest in the state.

http://www.wataugademocrat.com/opinion/equal-access-equal-opportunities-for-all/article_b1b55810-b864-11e4-b445-f74bcf4e3a4e.html