I ask the Lewiston City Council not to cut the hours and staff of our library.

As a Lewiston resident and homeowner, the Lewiston Public Library is where my children (going into middle and high school) go for an endless stream of books. Sometimes those books are for entertainment, and sometimes to support their education. Libraries have played a critical role in their learning and development since they were born.

The library plays a critical role in downtown Lewiston. Reducing hours and staff reduces access to learning and knowledge for residents. It removes critical staff from the support fabric of our city’s community (librarians.) Reducing hours reduce access to a warm place in harsh winters.

The only way the City Council could demonstrate a more anti-resident, anti-community, anti-growth mindset is to argue against funding our schools.

If our goal is to attract stable, high-paying, high-growth industry to the region — and new, young Mainers to feed that growth (both of which increase our tax base) — then we need to demonstrate a commitment to the people who live here and the next generation of Lewiston residents.

In moving to cut library services, the City Council is demonstrating a short-sighted, anti-growth mindset by considering a reduction of investment in our community.

Matt Jadud, Lewiston