Public libraries can be instrumental in creating a learning society and alleviating the problems pointed out in "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform," the report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education. In fact, public libraries have always played an important role in the nation's education and will continue to do so, both in technology and in the liberal arts. The Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) has already funded several projects designed to extend the services of public libraries, e.g., the Public Library Services Program and Interlibrary Cooperation Program, which are Titles I and III of the Library Services and Construction Act. It is imperative now for public libraries to find new ways of accessing and disseminating resources, identify their role in the learning society, and determine ways to increase lifelong learning opportunities. (KM)