There is an old poster that used to be popular that showed the United States viewed from the perspective of a New Yorker: New York City was about a third of the map. The middle of the map was compressed and had few details -- as if to say, "Who cares?"

The map had a little more detail about California, presumably because that state was too big to ignore.

I don't want to be quite that parochial, but I'd like to give you a North Raleigh perspective on the back-and-forth about the new library proposed for the Exploris museum.

Some say that's a good idea, others are against it. Whatever they decide, it will not affect the new libraries proposed for northern Wake (unlike a previous proposal to build a library in a new office building downtown, which may have delayed the northern Wake libraries).

"It looks like everything is right on schedule, give or take a month or two," said North Regional Supervisor Mike Wasilick.

According to the plan voters approved in a referendum last fall, construction on the North Regional Library should begin in fall 2006, and the expanded library should open in 2007.

Voters also approved a new library to be built somewhere within two miles of the Leesville and Strickland roads intersection, and another within two miles of Wakefield High School off Falls of the Neuse Road. Those projects are farther off in the future, however.

North Raleigh bibliophiles won't have to wait until 2007 for better library facilities, though; the West Popular Lending Library on Duraleigh Road is expanding into a vacant space next door, Wasilick said.

The bigger space will give the library more room for computers and study space and for a bigger children's area, he said.

We are still looking for guest columnists for our School Days page. Do you have an opinion about schools that you feel readers need to hear? Is there a concern that needs to be aired, a success that needs to be highlighted? If interested, call me or send me an e-mail message.