Libraries serve our nation and its citizens in two primary ways: by preserving our common culture, and by nurturing and sustaining democracy itself. A particular democratic function of libraries is fostering reading. As noted in two reports recently issued by the U.S. Department of Education, "What Works" and "First Lessons," it is imperative to develop our children's reading ability, and libraries are essential to achieving this goal. Libraries should not only preserve; they should promote learning and literature--librarians should be advocates as well as custodians. Moreover, the library is an essential part of the school and, as key members of a school's education team, librarians can contribute to the content of education by thinking carefully about the books they acquire for the library and by making a judicious selection of the books they wish to promote. Although technological innovations have led to enormous changes in the operations of libraries, the preservation and nurture of our culture and our nation are still the functions of libraries. Good books and good librarians are indispensible to the attainment of this goal. (KM)