Libraries used to be places where you sat silently, minding your Ps and Qs, afraid to sneeze or whisper or drop a book.

And if you did, a stern librarian would peer at you over her glasses and scowl.

Libraries were often dark, stark and minimally- decorated. Patrons stepping through the doors were met with an air of formality.

Not so the libraries of the present. People of all ages are encouraged to come in and chat, borrow resources, use computers for e-mail and other purposes and attend lectures and workshops.

Facilities are colorfully-decorated, warm and welcoming, like the Waterville Public Library.

On Thursday afternoon it was booming, with teen-agers clicking away on computers, adults sitting in comfortable chairs in a common room reading newspapers, books and magazines, and youths perusing the stacks and checking out movies. The late afternoon sun streamed through large windows as staff scurried around, answering questions.

Librarians around the country are realizing they must change and adapt to meet the needs and wants of patrons. That includes encouraging computer use, getting books, DVDs and other resources teenagers want, and providing a place for small children and their parents to play, read and be read to.

Many Maine libraries are finding themselves successful at attracting a new generation of users.

Waterville Library Director Sarah Sugden said she has seen a marked increase in the number of people using the library in the two years she has been in the job -- and vigorously promoting the library by introducing innovative programs.

"It's wonderful," she said. "We hope we're doing the right things that are responsive to the needs of our community and what we anticipate will be the needs."

Sugden does not fear that the age of the Internet will make libraries obsolete.

"Libraries have been around a long time and the odds are we're going to continue to be around," she said. "As a professional -- and library user -- I'm going to be responsive to whatever the need is."

Usage at Lithgow Public Library in Augusta also is up from 10 years ago, according to library Director Elizabeth Pohl.

"In 2006, we circulated 164,506 items, while in 1997, that figure was 130,068," Pohl said. "Books are still the biggest circulator, but DVDs, videos and audio books are tremendously popular and they account for an increasing portion of our overall circulation."

Like Sugden, Pohl says computers are constantly busy. While the library has no room for additional computers, Pohl hopes that situation will be remedied with a library expansion. Lithgow now offers more adult programming, such as one-on-one computer basics classes, outreach to assisted living facilities, concerts and book discussion, she said. Children's offerings have been expanded and the library has a teen film and book discussion program called "Books and Flicks."

"A Capital Read has certainly brought new users to the library also," Pohl said. "I think we now offer many more opportunities for all ages to read, discuss, learn, explore and be entertained. The library is a 'people place.'"

PATRONAGE INCREASING

Leslie Burger, president of the American Library Association, says she cannot predict what will happen to libraries in the future.

What she does know is that library usage is increasing all the time.

"Visits are up," says Burger, who is librarian of Princeton (New Jersey) Public Library. "The Internet has actually been good news for libraries."

More and more people use computers at libraries for the high-speed connection to the Internet that they may not get at home, she said. And for some people, libraries offer the only access to a computer.

Some people who had never come to libraries are now doing so to use computers; others who have not visited for a long time are coming back, according to Burger.

She said she is finding that many people who come to use computers do so for the social aspect -- to talk with others using computers instead of staying at home alone in a room. They also seek help from librarians when they research online, according to Burger.

"The role of libraries is also changing, in the sense that libraries are rethinking their roles as community centers -- great places for people to gather; people from all cultures, ethnicities, all economic levels, all levels of education," Burger said. "That doesn't happen in many places."

"They're great places to bring people together to explore ideas and discuss issues that may be of concern in a particular community."

CATERING TO YOUTH

Sugden says teenagers are the most difficult population to draw to the library. She goes into the schools to connect with students and school librarians to find out what teenagers want and need.

A summer resident donated funds which allowed the library to buy more teen-oriented books such as graphic novels including Manga (Japanese comics). They are a great draw, according to Sugden.

At the library on Thursday afternoon, there was certainly no lack of teenagers. They were using the computers, reading Manga books, checking out new movies and socializing. At one time, there were some 20 teens on the main floor.

"We have a good selection of Manga here," said Kevin Easler, 17. "I come here six days a week and on Saturday I come 10 to 3. I come right after school most of the time and stay to close (7 p.m.). My mom calls it my home away from home, pretty much."

Easler is president of a Manga-related book club at the library. He says the facility provides a lot of resources for him and his friends, including the Internet, which he doesn't have at home. In fact, he likes the library so much he applied for a job there.

"They have good computers and good prices for selling books, if they're having a book sale and they have good prices for making copies and printing out stuff on the computer," he said.

Easler hopped on a computer to order a Manga book not available at the library. He found one at the South Portland library, plugged in his member number and got a reply saying the book would be sent to the Waterville library when it is available.

"It'll probably be here in a couple of days," he said.

Angelica Ruest, 13, was engrossed in Myspace.com on a computer. She says she does not take out books, but does borrow movies from the library. An eighth- grader at Waterville Junior High School, Ruest said she comes to the library just about every day and stays for hours.

"I love this library because it's been here forever and it's one of the only libraries I've been to," she said.

Carol Cooley, librarian of the Oakland Public Library, pays particular attention to the needs of teenagers by having a special area for them and providing popular magazines such as ESPN, and other materials.

Cooley says people coming into the library specifically to use computers end up exploring other resources.

"They'll take a look around. They'll see what else is available, and vice versa," she said.

The Oakland library was renovated in 2002. Cooley says she thinks that helped increase patronage, which she does not expect will decline.

"I don't think the Internet and e-books are going to replace books," she said. "You can't curl up with an e-book. I know for myself, I can't read a lengthy document online. I always print it off."

The library encourages positive changes. Susan Folsom, a local teacher, enlarged and framed postcards of historic Oakland and they now grace the walls of the library. And on March 14, an open house will be held so that people may view artwork done by students from all over the school district, according to Cooley.

Every Friday, a story time event is held for pre-schoolers, and the library has a youth summer reading club.

"That's your future readers," Cooley said. "You've got to have the kids. I think it's important that there's a parental model. I think parents are a key. You've got to have the parents involved."

The Waterville library's children's department has all sorts of activities for young children and their parents, including puppet shows, movies and a play group for children three-months-old to four years. Children are read to, learn to play and socialize, and their parents connect with each other.

"Believe it or not, there are children who have never held a book," says Jeri Hume-Trott, a family assessment worker and family support worker for Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, which helps host the play group.

Jennifer Johnson and her son, Christopher, 1, attended a recent play group.

"I think it's been great for him," Johnson said. "We don't know any other kids his age and this is his social interaction."

Lisa Morris of Oakland and her son, Owen, also 1, were enjoying the event. Morris said she thinks such activities help keep libraries vibrant.

"We don't watch TV," Morris said. "We don't spend any time on the Internet and he loves to read books."

Waterville Children's Librarian Kathleen Kenney took training as part of a Family Place Grant the library received.

"It's meant to get us to look at everything we do with an eye to making the library as friendly and helpful as possible for families and children," she said.

Kenney has increased parenting resource materials and purchased toys appropriate for children three and younger, reviewed policies and worked to make the children's area more colorful.

Pohl, of the Lithgow library, says that, assuming officials may renovate and expand the library, its future is very bright.

"If we can improve our accessibility, relieve overcrowding and provide better space for technology, materials and programs, we could do so much more. Usually an expanded library will triple visitation."

LIFELONG PATRONAGE

Donald Freeman, 77, of Waterville has been using the library since he was five years old. A voracious reader, Freeman visits the library just about every day and often recommends to Sugden reading materials he thinks would be good for the facility.

Freeman has witnessed a lot of changes in the library over the years. When he was a boy, visiting the library daily, it was very quiet and run by a couple of spinsters, he said.

"If they said 'shush' and you didn't tone your voice down, they kicked you out," he said. "I think I was kicked out when I was five or six-years-old. I think the biggest change in the library is the atmosphere. You have a feeling of openness now, you have a feeling of ease in there."

Library changes in recent years are rapid and constant, according to Freeman.

"I don't think I ever go into the library that the computers along that wall in the back room are not full," he said. They ration the time. You'll hear someone call out, 'James, your time is up,' and the next person takes over."

He said he has never seen so many older people using the library.

"It's a haven for people, and especially senior citizens," he said. "But the glue that holds the whole thing together and makes it the haven that it is, is the staff. Waterville has a very, very good one and there wouldn't be a library without it."

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com