I’m in one of the three libraries closest to me and I just might be the state’s most frequent user of interlibrary loan ( really helps with research). During the pandemic lockdown access to Hoopla/Libby kept me sane. I brought my kids to the library for books, Lego tournaments, fun. Libraries are such an important part of a community!

I wouldn't be able to afford reading as much as I do if it wasn't for libraries. Libby makes everything so easy and accessible for me.

I adore the library. It gives people like myself a safe place to relax and read, use the internet to research (this was so helpful when I didn't have home wifi), and I get to be around other humans in a quiet setting, which is wonderful since most of my time is spent alone. I also get to read books (and check out other media) through the library before I decide if I want to purchase my own copy. I have a small place, so I can only own so much. But with the library's help, I ensure I only purchase the most meaningful to me works. Please keep our libraries going! They provide so much value to everyone.

I live in Stoneham, MA. When I first moved to Stoneham I was happy to see that the public library was right down the street! I work in a school, so in my free summers I spend time in the air conditioned library. One summer I got back into researching my family history in Norway. The Norwegians have farm histories called bygdeboks. They are invaluable for research and go back to the 1600s. They are only available in university libraries mostly in the mid-west. One day I asked tentatively and was amazed to find that my local library could obtain an extremely rare bygdebok through interlibrary loan. It took weeks but it was so awesome!

I love the Falmouth Public Library. It is a place for community and learning, two things we need now more than ever.

Life is hard. All the great stuff I can borrow from the library makes it easier! Books are the perfect friends.

The Woods Hole Public Library provides me and the rest of the community with a safe space for reading, writing and learning. Without this library I would not have been able to write and expand my mind in the way that I have

My husband and I are former teachers. We had to downsize when we moved to a small apartment. That meant unloading a lifetime of books. We absolutely depend on our library for the information and recreation that only books can provide.

Libraries are among the first places I visit when I travel, anywhere in N.E. and. beyond, each one offers something special, unique, while still surrounding visitors with a welcoming vibe. Some are fancier than others, a few I've been to were small tuckaways , rustic rural, cities are often centrally located, Chicago has several, as does N.Y. PLEASE continue to support libraries, we all need them! They offer a place that's open, accessible to all...no down payment required. Hint:.Susan Orlean's book "LIBRARY" offers some perspective. Plus it's a fascinating read.

I have loved libraries since I was a young child. Growing up in a small Louisiana town there wasn't much to do, and the library became my favorite place. Now, being in my 20's with two kids and living in Massachusetts I am passing on the tradition to my two children. We are all engaging in summer reading. My youngest, age 3 is fully blind and I love that I can go to most libraries in Mass and they have braille childrens books. Her favorite thing to do is read with me and attend library events. My oldest, age 7 is a bit behind in reading due to her ADHD and I appreicate all of the events the library hosts so I can engage her in reading in fun and interesting ways rather than just having her get frustrated at home with her words. From the events, to the inclusive books, and sectioned off childrens areas, the libraries in Massachusetts have become my daughter's and I's favorite places to go. Lastly, due to my daughter's disability money is obviously tight due to medical bills etc, so I appreciate the museum passes and events that allow us to get out the house and do fun community events which we normally wouldn't be able to afford.

The library is a space for community for me, as well as a place for learning. I have always loved learning and books, and my public library is a place that I go to for information and recreation. I love reading to learn, and reading to experience lives and adventures outside of my experience. I have found community in an art journaling group, writing group, and science fiction book club at my public library. Libraries are free, and available to anyone who wants to use them. They are a huge resource for people from all social and economic groups. We need to protect our libraries.

BPL is a community hub that has been an influential part of my life since I was a child. I came from a home constantly in turmoil with little money for extras. The library was a place where I could explore and learn new things, not just through reading but through books on tape (yes, I am old)! When I became a parent I shared the gift of books, movies, and music with my kids, and started using the audio book offering to fit 'reading' into my busy schedule. The committees I worked on as an involved citizen often met in the library. Now that my kids have grown and flown, I live in a condo building and we are so fortunate to have the Book Mobile come right to our door with our requests! In recent months, I have dropped styrofoam for recycling at our library, used free notary services, attended a community postcard writing GOTV campaign, and added to my growing collection of books for short money at the Friends of the BPL book sale. Our library and its dedicated staff are a precious gem!

I recently relearned the joy of visiting the library as an adult - my library is a mile walk from me, and I love that in under 20 minutes I can have so many services available to me. I used my library several times when I needed to print things during my job search, used it for access to discounted passes to take my mom to a museum, used it to find events in my community like how to create a pollinator garden and learn how to sew, and of course use it for the simple joy of being around so many books and having the freedom to borrow and read and enjoy them whenever I please. Libraries are a treasure we need to protect!

Our family absolutely loves Westfield Athenaeum! It is an invaluable community resource. My daughter who's 8 now, has been coming to the library since she was 6 months old, and now loves nothing more than borrow a bagful of books and read them all evening in her cosy armchair. I love borrowing the newest cookbooks and testing out the recipe, and I cannot imagine my rides to work without listening to a book on Libby. Even my Mom, the recent retiree has rediscovered a library for herself and looks forward to our trips to borrow new books. We are so grateful to the library for giving us the access to knowledge!

My local library is a cornerstone of our rural town. It provides much more than access to information. Its staff, volunteers, patrons and general users organize a variety of programs and events that serve our community. Our town would be greatly diminished without our library.

I love libraries. I have fond memories at my local library spending hours reading books as a kid. Now as an adult I use the local online book services and audio books for my commute to work. De-funding the libraries would be a disservice to generations. Every stage of my life has been helped with a library. From doing the summer reading challenges as a kid, to cramming for finals in the one quiet place I could find. Libraries have a key stone for my life and should be able to share that power for many more decades. SAVE MASS LIBRARIES!

Using the mvlc has helped me read books I've loved before as a child and find new ones to love as an adult! Walking into my local library in Lawrence is always a treat as the librarians there are always helpful and kind. Plus, cheap printing when I needed it before was great help when I had to print and mail important documents around.

I absolutely love the library and the role it’s played in my life. Growing up it’s where I practiced learning how to read. As a teen, I could study and check out books for free vs buying them which saved my parents a whole lot of money. As an adult, I use Libby religiously as I listen to audio books and read kindle books daily while I commute and at work. I read about a book a week sometimes 2 thanks to Libby’s quick service and wide book selection.

I use the library almost every day to read ebooks. As a grad student, I use the library for research. I can’t emphasize enough how much having free access to research, novels, and cookbooks has helped me in my adult and academic life. As a child, some of my fondest memories are of visiting my local library and checking out books. It would be a disservice to the public to defund our libraries. They are the heart of our communities.