Absolutely true but not just in small rural communities. I lived in the well-off suburb of Montclair, N.J., when about 80 percent of the town lost power for days during Hurricane Sandy. The power company rightly made a high priority of first getting the electricity back on at state, federal, and local government institutions that provided services to the public before private homes. That meant that the MPL had power long before a lot of its patrons did. It set up shop as a warming-and-charging station where people could charge their devices. And I saw dozens--maybe hundreds--of cords plugged into surge protectors all over the main floor. I believe the MPL also let people bring sleeping bags and sleep there. It was heroic, and I'm forever grateful.