In 100 years, there have been many operational changes at the Lawrence Public Library, but the central mission remains the same.

Aaron Giago and his 4-year-old daughter, Ashley, are a pretty good advertisement for the Lawrence Public Library.

“I come here mainly for my daughter,” Giago told a reporter who approached him during the library’s centennial celebration on Wednesday. “She likes looking at the fish and going through the books.”

A trip to the library, which Giago said they made once or twice a week, is a small thing, but it is likely to have a lasting impact on a 4-year-old who will have treasured memories of the outings with her dad and probably a lasting love and appreciation for libraries and reading.

Providing those childhood experiences for the thousands of children who come to the library every year would be enough to justify the city’s investment in this important facility. But, of course, the services provided at the Lawrence Public Library extend well beyond that.

The library recorded 467,000 visits last year and total circulation of 788,000 items. There were more than 83,000 transactions at the reference desk helping patrons find materials and information. The library provides free access to the Internet as well as to more than 200,000 books, 3,500 music CDs and audio books, 9,500 videotapes and DVDs, 400 magazines and 20 newspapers. It offers regular art exhibits, story hours and about the only free meeting rooms in town. It’s a hub of city information and activity.

The library officially went public in Lawrence with the opening of the Carnegie building in 1904. The role of a free public library both then and now is to provide and protect free access to information. With the explosion of the Worldwide Web, people might think libraries would become obsolete, but although their functions have changed their mission is no less vital.

Not everyone can afford to buy books or have a home computer. Most people wouldn’t want to subscribe to 20 newspapers or 400 magazines. And although much of the information in those publications is available online, it increasingly comes at a price. At the library, it’s still free to everyone.

The Lawrence Public Library has been in its current home since 1972. Considering how much the city has grown since that time, it isn’t surprising that the library also is considering an expansion. Although branch facilities that spread library services across Lawrence have some appeal for many residents, discussions now are focusing on a single new library building downtown. Finding a downtown location with adequate space for a new library and parking will be a challenge, but a task force is studying the issue and may present a plan to city commissioners later this year.

There is no question of the Lawrence Public Library’s contribution to the community, thanks to the diligence of library staff and volunteers. The library’s 100th anniversary is a good time for local residents and city officials to recognize those efforts and renew their commitment to the important services the library provides.