More than books
Yesterday someone asked me why we even need libraries. They said the generations that read books won’t be around much longer, so what’s the point?
If that were true, I would be extremely worried.
Reading isn’t just for pleasure. It creates curiosity, empathy, improved cognition and lifelong learners.
There are as many benefits as there are kinds of books: cozy mysteries for comfort, science and history non-fiction to expand our views, fantasy to sweep us away, spirituality and cookbooks for tending to ourselves.
If that were the only thing libraries provided, it would be enough, but it’s not.
The library is a magical place where you don’t have to buy anything to sit in the heat or air conditioning, you can take books and movies and music home for free and you can ask for any kind of information and receive help with respect.
It’s where out-of-town visitors come to print their boarding passes, students get free proctoring on tests and many people create their resumes, apply for jobs or take a food handling class.
The meeting room is booked with classes, discussion groups and events that are held at no cost.
These resources are vital for a community that values connectedness and knowledge, and there is nowhere else to get them all.
Healthy democracies are built on access to information that is not dependent on economic status.
Vote yes on both propositions for the Sequim Library so we can continue to live out and pass on these values.
Liz Duval,
Sequim