The Librarians Are Not Okay

We all have our current set of values. Mine include whole-heartedly supporting a tax-supported public library system in which people with otherwise limited access to resources (and on that point I support increasing such access, as in healthcare, housing, and education, because I care about people I may never meet) have access to so many other worlds via the perspective of authors who have made the effort to share their stories. If we collectively fund the arts we'll have more books from a more-diverse set of authors (which only matters if enough of us value that). If I didn't have parents who read to me every day and who frequently took me to the library (one of the few places I was trusted to be on my own at a young age) I might not have read as broadly or care as much as I do about libraries.

Public libraries are refuges of belonging. Along with outdoor spaces they are my favorite places to spend time, by myself and with my child (I'm the primary-care person), who has some disabilities and through books finds commonalities. The librarians recognize us, are kind, welcoming, and helpful, and the cadence of a library visit is delightfully slow (much like being in the woods--so much history and potential).

Economically, because of libraries it is likely that I've spent more money on books rather than less, especially when buying gifts for people.

I've a lot more to say on the subject (and have commented about libraries here before), but I'll end this by noting that two of my favorite authors, Ray Bradbury and Octavia Butler, credit public libraries with much of their formative education.