#saveimls

I go to a book club at my library, and every summer my kids and I sign up for the summer reading program. We've attended magic shows, nature talks, science demos, art classes, movie nights, Halloween parties, and other special events. My son chose to volunteer at the library for his community service project at school. My daughter just learned about the new 3D printer at the "Library of Things" and is eager to learn all about it (she wants to be an engineer). Our local library has become a key to connecting our family with the larger community, as it helps the kids grow toward college and career. Please keep funding our libraries. They are more than just collections of books. They are catalysts for community. They help us build bridges to a better future.

My husband and I perform in a small non-profit theatre company that has toured to libraries all across the nation for two decades. We have seen the slow loss of funding to many area branches especially rural ones, and how that has devastated communities. Libraries are the one place that anyone of any race, color, creed, economic status, religion, or age can go and be safe and better themselves through learning with books and access to technology that they may not have at home. Libraries are the one are of government that consistently get high reviews by the public. There is quiet power in the common ground that libraries provide that we must relish. The foundation is strong and working. Please don't dismantle it.

Back when I was a single parent of two growing boys, for many years money was very tight or non-existent.  If not for the local public libraries, I would not be the proud parent of 2 college graduates today.  I could not have afforded computers or all the books for research that they needed through high school and college. Both my son’s loved the libraries so much they each worked there to help pay expenses during college. To cut funding for libraries is the equivalent of cutting off your nose to spite your face.