[…]for me and legions of library patrons from all walks of life, what’s happening these days feels personal. Economic uncertainty and political neglect are quietly smothering public libraries across Minnesota.
“Communities are just having to face really tough decisions,” said Sarah Hawkins, legislative director for the Minnesota Library Association and assistant director of the Anoka County Library. “When you’re facing trickle-down budget cuts it’s easier to cut the library because it [seems] a little bit more discretionary.”
This is shortsighted. When we reduce library access, we aggravate our most pressing challenges: increased social isolation, inaccurate information, barriers to new technology and a higher cost of living. Libraries address all these problems efficiently, despite far too little political support.
You don’t have to buy something to enjoy the library, nor do you need to join a new religion or swear allegiance to a political party. No need to feed quarters into a machine to sit down. At a library, you’re free to be who you are and do what you want within the bounds of a few basic rules, most of which boil down to “love thy neighbor.”
My local library is the only place I see kids from public schools, private schools and home-school families interacting with each other as part of a community. That’s vitally important to our shared future.
There’s nothing else like a public library, nor will the private sector ever provide such space and materials for everyone to use. Certainly not for free. And libraries continue to change with the times, offering e-books through easy-to-use apps and technology training for people of all ages.