I have used libraries across Massachusetts for many years. As a Brockton native, and current Taunton resident I can remember days where a trip to the library after school was my only solace from my home life. Taking part in activities, and going with my friends to check out books meant that I did not have to roam the streets, or take part in unsafe activities everyone else was interested in at the time. Even now, I use the library to explore books I could not otherwise access. Ones recommended by friends online, ones that can not be borrowed by a neighbor- and as a way to expand my knowledge with new books I didn't even KNOW I wanted. Not only that, but the community events is just another amazing thing Taunton Library provides, it brings a sense of togetherness amongst other participating residents in the city.

Public libraries are some of my favorite places to visit. I consider them a vital community asset. I’ve had a library card since elementary school and have always loved browsing the stacks looking for my next good read. Books have always been one of my most beloved pastimes, a place to escape and explore new worlds, different cultures and ways of life. A way to learn new things and explore different ways of thinking. Some of my fondest memories are of taking my children to the library each week so they could select and check out their own library books and develop a lifelong love of books and reading. The library staff are wonderful people, they remember names and faces and are welcoming and kind to just about everyone. I’ve seen librarians being kind and patient with drug addicts visiting the library in the cold winter months. Libraries are a valuable and irreplaceable resource for everyone. A community without a fully functioning public library is a sad place, indeed. I hope I never have to live there.