Librarians are more important than ever in the Google era, argues auther Marilyn Johnson in her 2010 book, This Book is Overdue. Johnson interviews modern-day librarians—"cybrarians," she calls them—and how their work has transformed from the days of using the card catalog to consulting multiple information databases and the Internet.

I've only read the sample chapter on my Kindle, but I can't wait to read the book in its entirety. In the first pages, Johnson contrasts the duties of a librarian who runs the show at a century-old structure in South Dakota—and steadfastly guards precious paper historical archives locked in a steel vault—with another real-life librarian who is behind an "avatar" librarian in the virtual world known as Second Life.

If you love books, libraries or just scouting out information for sport, you may enjoy Johnson's talk, which begins at 7 p.m. tonight at the Katonah Village Library, as part of the joint annual meeting of the Katonah Village Improvement Society and the Katonah Village Library.

The meeting will begin following the lecture. Co-presidents Susan Warsaw and Lisa Salzano will present opening remarks, the KVIS 2010 Annual Report, and the election of the KVIS officers and the executive committee. All contributors to the library may vote.

The organization has much to report since its last meeting.

"We've had a busy year," Warsaw told Patch, as she was finalizing the plans for the evening last Friday. "We're especially proud of donating $9,000 of audio visual equipment to the library—they have over 400 programs each year during which it will be used."

KVIS also has plans for a film series to kick off this winter, and has set the date for their annual wine tasting and biggest fundraiser: March 19.

"We're also working on our walking tour brochure, and recording an audio tour to go along with it," she said. Users will be able to download a podcast featuring real-life stories of the structures on the tour.

For example, while walking by an older home in Katonah, one might hear an older resident sharing a story about growing up there, Warsaw explained.

Other KVIS accomplishments this year include the donation of two benches in Katonah (they're to the left of Chase Bank, now covered in snow); awarding a $2,000 scholarship to college-bound Katonah student, Alex Whalen, and sponsoring a week of history camp for three Katonah fourth-graders. 

"We hope to get our student KVIS committee active soon, and are recruiting students now for that," added Warsaw.

To become a member of KVIS, residents become a "friend" of the library by donating $15.  Meetings are held the fourth Monday of every month.  For more information, email info@kvis.us.