I recently left a mammogram appointment in tears after being told they saw a suspicious spot which may need to be biopsied. I was terrified and didn’t feel like I was given all the information that I needed to understand what was happening or what to expect and I was too in shock to be able to think of the right questions to ask. On my way home, I stopped by my public library and found a book about breast health that helped me to understand the risk associated with the specific kind of spot they found, the percentage of patients that have these kinds of spots that turn out to be cancerous (very low) and what to expect next. Through their online catalog I found other books on the topic which were available at other libraries. Thanks to the cooperative nature of libraries in our state, and thanks to federal funding, I was able to place a hold on those books and have them delivered to my local library to pick up within a couple of days. These books alleviated my significant fears by giving me context and I now feel well-prepared to ask the right questions in future appointments. My library had what I needed precisely when I needed it because of knowledgeable staff that make sure their shelves are stocked with relevant materials for everyone. THANK YOU.

Despite being a busy medical student, my love for reading has never left me. Audiobooks have become my perfect middle ground as a result, and through Libby with the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium, I am able to expand my understanding of different experiences through the various stories I listen to. I love how my library gives me these opportunities that can help me improve the lives of my future patients.

The Charlton Public Library was the first place I visited when I moved to town. Public libraries are the heart of every community and a place to find learning, peace and friendship. We must all take the time and effort to support the future funding of our libraries for our children and our communities. Once they are gone, we will regret our inaction.

I've loved and sought out my local library everywhere I've ever lived. I've helped to enrich my autistic nephews life by introducing him to the library as well. The books, services, events and knowledge is all priceless! We need our libraries!

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.

As a new mom, our libraries have been a wonderful resource and a great way to meet other new moms and families. We love the toddler storytime and go several times a week to play or read books.

"We have been caring for my brother since 2018. He depends on supplemental oxygen 24/7 and cannot do any strenuous activities. The library books that he reads help pass the time and make each day more enjoyable. He has been reading two or more books per week, so they have been a great help to him and to us as caregivers. I have also personally read several books per month that I have sourced through our local library. It is a great resource for education and entertainment materials. Puzzle resources have also been helpful. We have used the library computers to fill out state forms that our nonprofit had to fill out as one of our members does not have one. The library also has been a neutral place to meet people and explore and discuss new ideas. I also appreciate the library's hospitality in hosting our weekly fiber arts group. The library provides a friendly, comfortable and well-lit environment for our meeting. We really appreciate all that our library does for us! Thank you!"

I can't believe we're even in this position. Libraries and access to art, music, film and literature are the basis of community and culture. Reading expands your mind, your knowledge base and increases your capacity for empathy and creativity.

Public libraries have been a lifeline for me through my years as a young mother and homemaker, and even now as I forge a new life on my own. I love that I can rely on my local libraries for so much. When I was a young mother the public library was a special destination for my children and I. We read more books, were exposed to a variety of world music and film than we could otherwise. Now I read less and listen more. I'm always talking about the Libby app and how we don't have to be left out because we can't afford it. I love my local libraries. My children learned to do research, talk to new adults, navigate the stacks physical and digital, and to feel confident and responsible as they used their own library cards. They also learned that their were safe spaces beyond the walls, church, or school. My grandchild now goes to the library too. It's a wonderful legacy. I love my local libraries. When I visit a community library I instantly feel a sense of possibility and wonder. I'm excited to explore and to greet the staff. Utilizing the interlibrary loan system that is bit like walking into the Tardis. I love Massachusetts libraries.

My love of reading started when I was 8 years old at the Stoneham library. And now it continues at the Melrose library. I introduced my children and grandchildren to the library and now my great-grandchildren. Happy memories are made at public libraries. The must be funded!

I learned to love books and reading through my public library. I have been a reader my whole life. By taking funding away from libraries, you are taking access away from millions of children nationwide who are learning to love reading, books, and might need a safe space. There is so much that libraries can do for people.

Libraries are a vital part of the community. It is one of the few places where people can gather and access a huge variety of resources without worrying about cost. Personally, books have provided me with a needed escape and a multitude of learning opportunities. Communities are weaker without libraries.

Since a head injury I have not been able to read for more than 20 minutes, and at first, not at all. Libby and audiobooks have been my main source of respite and enjoyment for years. I’m grateful for MA libraries for making this possible!!

I have a neurological disorder that makes reading difficult. My public library is the only place where I can access texts to train my brain into reading properly. Without the access to a large volume of high quality print materials I don't know how I would be getting better.

You always try to answer my questions. You help me to find books for my mom. You have a working Fax.

My whole life, libraries have been my refuge, from conflicts in my parents house, a way to read books I could not afford and later, at college, a quiet place to learn. I go to my local BPL on Boylston Street, every week and am heartened and delighted by the variety of users, and visitors it receives. I see myself in the children and young teens, who can now access so many tools for learning and enrichment. Thank you libraries everywhere, especially, in Bosyon, MA.

I appreciate the Whitman Library so much! I regularly check out fiction books, and often use their nonfiction section for research, cookbooks, and recently checked out a book on shed building including plans and blueprints on ILL I will use to build my own shed. I also love to check out ebooks on my ereader and occasionally use audiobooks on my phone. The streaming services are excellent as well, and helps me not have to pay for other services. I love the library!