To Citizens Who Use Public Libraries: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is funding a national research effort  to study the changing role of librarians, library users, and the general public in the digital age.  The Pew Research Center Internet & American Life Project is conducting the surveys and analyzing the data as related to reading/e-reading; changes in library services and the choices libraries are making; and if/how the digital age is changing how people use books and libraries.   Your help is needed.  This report will look specifically at people’s experiences in public libraries, especially their use of e-books & other digital services. To gather this research, Pew has developed two surveys: one for public librarians and one for public library users. Please complete the survey for patrons of local public libraries. It is available at http://libraries.pewinternet.org/participate/survey/e-book-borrowers and takes about 15 minutes. This survey is not password protected. The survey will be available until May 18^th. The results of these surveys will provide very valuable information for all of us. Thank you for your help with this project. Martha Reid State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries