I was once an immigrant who made Lewiston my home. I spoke French and had to learn to navigate a new country and culture.

The Lewiston Library became a refuge for me and my family — a place to learn English, to access services we might not have been able to get elsewhere, a place to build friendships, make connections, feel safe and accepted; above all, a place to get our fill of stories, music and endless learning.

More recently, I attended a film showing at Callahan Hall, which brought together Franco-American locals, new Mainers, children, older adults, college students and visitors from outside the area, who all saw value in this event. If this is not an example of community building and showcasing the best Lewiston has to offer, I don’t know what is, thanks to the wonderful institution that is the library.

I urge the City Council to please reconsider the misguided and harmful cuts to the library budget. These would not only affect hours of operation, but also needed support for our neighbors and ourselves.

They would cut into the very fiber of our community.

Jacynthe Jacques, Lewiston