Not the hushed or book-filled library experience you might expect. Patrick Rodriguez/SLV. Public libraries embody the values of democracy by offering free access to knowledge. But the role of contemporary public libraries extends far beyond access to books. Libraries are places for learning and discovery, forums for debate, galleries for exhibitions and events, and spaces for work and pleasure. As cultural centres and community hubs, libraries bring people together. With the rise of digital information early this century, . Yet far from causing the demise of libraries, the digital revolution has led to . Library staff are experts in knowledge systems and adept at seizing the possibilities presented by these changes. This ability to innovate