As the Lewiston City Council considers cutting the Lewiston Public Library’s budget and operating hours, I would ask the council to carefully consider the library’s value to our community.

The LPL remains one of the few free spaces that provides resources to everyone in our community: toddlers, students, senior citizens, educators and parents.

And today’s library is not the same as the one created by Ben Franklin in 1731. In addition to books, our library provides high speed internet, computers, eBooks, printers and access to other technologies; videos, games and music; literacy and homework support; story-times, after-school and summer learning programs; teen space and study rooms; and job training and employment support.

LPL is an essential part of our social infrastructure, promoting self-development and intellectual and social empowerment. According to a Pew Research center survey, eight in 10 adults feel that libraries help them find trustworthy and reliable information and 76% say libraries help them learn new things.

The mission of the Lewiston Public Library is preserving our history, connecting our community, and enriching the life of the mind. While I understand budgets are difficult and priorities competing, this is an important mission.

It can only be fulfilled with the continued strong support of our elected officials.

Edward Barrett, Lewiston, member of Lewiston Public Library’s board of trustees