Dear Editor,
As a regular patron of the Brewster Public Library, I am writing to declare my support for our library and for all the libraries in New York State. Our library, like so many others, is the cornerstone of our community. Libraries are for everyone; they provide a safe and welcoming space for all, regardless of race or ethnicity, religion, country of origin, income or education level. New Federal policies could potentially undermine New York’s tax structure, putting funding for local education services like public libraries at risk.
To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “a budget is a moral document.” We, through our elected officials, chose where to spend our collective resources, which serve as a testament to what we value. This winter, as our elected representatives come together in Albany to craft this year’s NYS Budget, we must be sure that the document they produce benefits every New Yorker. There is no better way to do this than funding our libraries.
Our libraries offer free and equal access to educational opportunities and are a primary source of Internet access for many of our residents. Residents of all ages, experiences and needs turn to our local library for literacy programs; adult education, financial literacy; health and fitness workshops; technology assistance; English and other language classes; and many other programs and services too numerous to list here.
Thank you for your support of the Brewster Public Library. Please join me in using the online advocacy system offered by the New York Library Association ( www.nyla.org/advocacy ) to write to the Governor and the Legislature, urging them to include full-funding for New York State’s public libraries in the budget.
-John W. Blaser
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