It’s likely Forbes contributor Panos Mourdoukoutas wishes he had never suggested in print that Amazon could replace libraries.

At first blush that is a bad idea. And all you have to do is spend an hour – or less – at Fountain Hills Library to know Mourdoukoutas is full of prunes.

Vicki Novak, Fountain Hills branch manager, said bookstores simply can’t provide the same services libraries do.

“Libraries provide a sense of community,” Novak said. “It is a place to gather, a place where there are so many things to do.”

As part of the Maricopa County Library District, the local library adheres to the district’s mission of serving as the “front porch of the community,” Novak said.

The front porch analogy works well at the local library. On a recent visit, children were enjoying books in the children’s section; teens were on computers in the teen section; adults were scattered throughout the space, browsing through books, reading magazines, working on computers.

“This is usually how it is,” Novak said. “There is a lot of activity at the library. There are people being involved.”

The library serves as a nice place to escape the heat. There are things to learn aside from just checking out a book. The staff is engaged in helping patrons.

“Some people don’t have a computer at home,” Novak noted. “It is uncommon to apply for jobs using the mail. Most job applications are online. Without a computer, it can be a problem.”

Novak said even those who are not computer literate can use the computers.

“We help people acquire computer skills,” she said. “We can help people apply for a job. That is just one of the services we provide.”

Hard to imagine getting that kind of personal help from Amazon or a brick-and-mortar bookstore.

“We can provide so much,” Novak said. “Some people can’t afford to buy a book. Kids can check out 50 books at a time.”

That is a lot of reading, but Novak said children go through books quickly. They come back for the next 50 books within days.

A mother who was at the library that afternoon said her children (two little girls and a teenage boy) have been coming to the library all their lives.

“The programs for every age group are just great,” Genese Pelano said. “My son does volunteer work here. They both are participating in the summer reading program.”

Jane Beil, who is almost 7, and her sister, Sophie, who is 5, were playing computer games in the afternoon.

Jane said she enjoys turning folded paper in to Pokemon bookmarks. She added that she likes Pokemon books best of all.

Their friend Taytum Prenzno, 9, said she loves picking out her own books, especially cookbooks. She said she enjoys looking at art books and finding new books to read.

Three year-old Alia Metz was spending time playing with blocks while her mother, Amber, and brother Jade, watched.

The family has been in Fountain Hills only a short while. Amber said she was glad to have a place where her children can have things to do out of the heat.

Alia said she liked to pick out books and to play on the computers.

Madison Pelano said she loves having her own library card.

“Then I can check out my own books,” she said.

Novak said children who use the library and who are exposed to reading early will have the best success in school.

“Kids who find that reading is a fun thing and not just an assignment will have a lifetime love for books,” she said.

The young children who spoke to The Times last week seemed to reflect that philosophy.

Elizabeth Franzone, who is 12, said she “reads too much.”

Her mother, Terry, said she grew up not loving books and decided early that she would help her children learn to love to read. She obviously struck the right note with Elizabeth.

The younger Franzone said she plans to be a teacher, an interior designer and a politician. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to do them all at once or to have three different careers.

Meanwhile, she just finished reading the last in the “Red Queen” series by Victoria Aveyard.

“Oh, I really loved those books,” she said.

Clyde and Claire Cangley were at the library with their dad, Colton. Colton said he enjoys spending time there with his children.

“We just have a good time when we are here,” he said. “They play games or sit and read. It is just a good place to hang out.”

Clyde, who is 9, said he enjoys movies and working on the computers. His sister, Claire, 10, said she loves getting to check out books without paying.

Claire said she would be sad if the library wasn’t here.

“I don’t really know what I would do,” she said.

Novak said when she read the article by Panos Mourdoukoutas she thought it was “silly.” She noted that she had to search for the removed column on the website waybackmachine.com, which has information that has been removed from its original website.

“I guess it was taken down pretty quickly,” she said. “I don’t think anyone agreed with the suggestion that Amazon could replace libraries.”

And Fountain Hills’ own small library is a testament to it being a bad suggestion.