The Freeport Area Public Library merits praise for turning concern into positive results with the opening of its new children's room.

The room, opened four months ago, has reversed the trend of shrinking children's-book circulation that the library had been experiencing.

In 1979, more children than adults checked out books from the library, but prior to the opening of the children's room, children's circulation had dropped to one-fifth of the adult-circulation total. Library officials feared that children weren't reading, and that fear probably was justified, especially considering the circulation numbers since the new room's opening.

The number of children signing books out of the library has tripled.

The result sends a significant message to other libraries that might have room to improve their invitation to young readers.