Many have already written and spoken in support of the Lewiston Public Library as a place — an ad hoc shelter and resource center in a city whose leadership doesn’t always treat our marginalized citizens terribly well.

I agree with all of those people and those messages. I write this letter to champion books. As an educator and a voracious reader (I average 100 new-to-me novels a year, plus numerous re-reads of favorites), I know that there are few better ways of understanding the full scope of the human experience than to read, and read widely.

Books show us ourselves in the stories of others, giving hope and comfort to those who feel alone. Books also show a plurality of experiences, widening one’s understanding of differences in time, place, privilege, identity. No other media can do that.

Because books require the reader’s imagination and experiential input to complete the story, we are supported through our own discovery of what is most important. It is no wonder that abusive governments throughout the world and across history have censored, banned and destroyed books; no wonder that, along with our schools, the library is targeted as an easy financial cut.

Each book in our library is a compact, efficient threat to those who would like to imagine that their view is the only truth.

Education is powerful. Let’s not sit by while the Lewiston City Council takes away that power.

Ellen Hodgkin, Lewiston