Actor James Earl Jones, a spokesman for Verizon Information Services, was on hand Nov. 7, 2002, for the opening of Information Station/Estacion de Informacion, a bilingual e-branch library kiosk, at the northside Walmart Super Center on Lexington’s New Circle Road. “By itself, this machine is little more than plastic, a keyboard, silicon chips and a screen,” said Jones, whose acting career has spanned more than 60 years on screen and stage. “But once you … click on, this machine comes to life and brings the world — the World Wide Web, to be exact — to your fingertips. And with the internet comes opportunity, and that is exciting.” The kiosk, financed by a $50,000 grant from Verizon to the Lexington Public Library Foundation and housed at no cost by Walmart, provided quick access to library; social and legal services; information about recreation, health, transportation, schools and literacy programs; and Verizon’s SuperPages.com and SuperPages en Espanol. “Now everyone in this community, regardless of whether their first language is English or Spanish, will be able to access the magic of the internet through this kiosk to find a fact or a library or a job,” said Jones, who also is known for his voice roles as Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” film series and Mufasa in Disney’s “The Lion King.” “And, at the same time, they’ll be improving their computer literacy skills. … Reading literacy is a first step to a promising future. But computer literacy is a second step, especially in a world that grows more dependent on the technology.” The kiosk was the first of its type in Kentucky, according to James Lee, president of the library board of trustees, and will supplement the main library and five branches. Jones turns 87 Wednesday. Photo by Pablo Alcala | Staff