All of the movies I see come from the library now. The selection is fantastic and they're free!

It helps me when I have projects, when I'm bored! I just LOVE the library! It is AWESOME!

Your Service is great I would not choose a different system!!!!!

I'm a successful children's book illustrator. I spend countless long hours working in my studio. For years I have annoyed the poor librarians at my local library by ordering audio books from other OCLN communities online and having them delivered. Piles of them. Mountains of them! Honestly, like a Pavlovian dog, after years of working, I am conditioned to illustrate only while I listen to an audio book. Through this audio book addiction I have been fortunate to meet and become friends with some of the fabulous authors who have written my favorite titles! These connections never would have come about had I not ordered books from the OCLN. Separate from the audio books, I have had the distinct pleasure of having my artwork exhibited at! many of the OCLN member libraries - numerous times! I couldn't count them all at this point. How fabulous the general public has been able to see the original illustrations from some of my books and magazine assignments. The library system is not only important for its intellectual value to the community at-large, but also for its cultural opportunities. (Fifteen years ago my children attended free arts and crafts classes at our library and made friends - with people they still keep in touch with!) Lastly, I am the mother of four highly gifted children. It is impossible to put a monetary value on the academic benefits the library has offered each of them over the course of their life times. For that alone I am truly grateful. I know they are, too, as the oldest ones have successful careers.
I remember the days when I visited the local library on Sundays. How appalling I can no longer do that! This isn't tax money well spent, it should be spent BEFORE mayors and city hall employees get raises, police and fire get funded! How ever can these service people perform their tasks without education? Every one of those people HAD to have walked into a library to complete a homework assignment! Everyone of their children is doing the same today! Libraries are THAT important. Tell them I said so.

As a retired person, I have found the library to be a great source for continued learning and a source for the entertainment that reading and watching and listening to library materials provide. I'm a long-time user of the Old Colony Library Network, and it is a treasure.

Although we have lived in a few different places, both rural and urban, public libraries have always played a big role in my family's life, especially while the children were growing up. Though we don't visit the Brockton Public Library System as often now, my husband and I still use it frequently for books, audio books, and movies. The public library system is part of the intellectual and emotional lifeblood of the city of Brockton. I hope it can weather this economic downturn and continue to exist for future generations.

I have always used the library on an 'as-needed basis'. Now with two children under the age of 5, I find myself using the library more and more. We always go to library hour, and we have been recently introduced to the wonderful programs and activities that the library offers. In this economy with everyone trying to cut back, it's important to find cheaper ways to keep your kids entertained and
productive. The library is a wonderful resource and alternative to just staying home.

I am an avid reader and read 3 to 4 books a week. I am not able to afford to buy them so use the library. I love being able to browse through the books on the computer and then place holds for the ones I would like to read. When my children were young, we visited the library weekly and they participated in the many activities offered. I really appreciate the library.

I am 17 years old, and I'm broke. I can't get a job yet, as I'm very busy with school, and my parents want me to put off getting a job until after high school. So, I don't have the money to go out and buy books all the time. This would be a great problem for me, as I've loved reading since I was a little kid, if it weren't for libraries. They allow me to be able to get access to literally thousands of books, without having to pay a dime! (Except for late fees, of course). You want a community to be a good, safe place for its residents to thrive? Preserve its libraries....Please:]

I love my library. I find lots of great stories that you can't find at a bookstore! I like to pick out videos. I also like the shows that are held at the library. I can't wait to see the owl show. I have never
seen an owl. I also like to study in the room that is named after my uncle who died. The people at the library are always nice and it's a fun place to be.

Right now with the economy being so bad- having the opportunity to take books free out of the library is a big help. I just wish the library was open more so it was convenient to get to after work.

[NOTE: The next two replies are by a brother and sister.]
I am in the 3rd grade. I have been going to the East library since I was 3 years old. I love to read! Because I go to the library every week, I am in advanced reading in school and I have been chosen to be in the T.A.G. program next year in school. The library is very important to me because I can find any kind of book to read and my librarian Miss Karen makes going to the library a fun experience. Miss Karen makes everyone want to read!!! Please don't close my library.

Library services improve my life a lot. Every time I have a research paper for school (I get them a lot!) I go to the library to get the research and facts I need, also, I have entered 2 science fairs and have been chosen among the top 10 in both, I got my research from the library. My librarian - Miss Karen is the BEST!! She is so much fun and helps me with everything I need. Please don't close my library.

I can't express how important reading is to me. Reading novels is my favorite hobby but I will read anything if I’m just standing around for some reason. I would never be able to afford to buy all of the books that I read. I've always loved libraries but last weekend I was reminded of how great it is to be able to borrow books for free. I had finished a book that I had loved (Case Histories by Kate Atkinson) and then went to my giant pile of library books to find a new book to read. I read the first 10 pages of 4 books that I ended up hating. Finally, on the fifth try I found a new book that I liked (The Crime Writer by Gregg Hurwitz). It's so great to have a huge pile of books to choose from.

I have always enjoyed a good book and passed on that habit to my children. We often participated in the children's art &craft hour when they were little. As they grew older, they frequented the library for
their book reports and projects for school. They are now in college and still love to use the library. But the best story that I can share with you is one about a gentleman from Haiti who joined my church choir. It was his desire to better his education in this country and become an engineer like he was in his own. His biggest stumbling block was his English. I told him that the library had resources to help him improve his understanding of the language as well as his pronunciation. He has never stopped thanking me for showing him where the local library was. As a footnote, he just graduated (with honors!) and is looking forward to getting back into his chosen profession.

As a mother of two kids, we all love to read. I love going to the library with the kids and seeing their faces when they pick out new books to read. I am so grateful that we have the library network,
because we are a gluten free family. My local library had only a few resources, but we were able to put on hold/request several books from other local libraries, and received them within 5 days. It was such a help to be able to learn about an issue without having to spend a lot of money. The librarians are very caring, and each time we go, there is always some type of surprise... a craft or an event that is right up the kids’ alley!

I simply cannot imagine life without libraries. When I was a kid, I would ride my bike 7 miles each way to get there. The books I borrowed vastly expanded my world--I lived in a small city in upstate NY & would never have been exposed to the art, music & literature that came alive
through library materials. My own children spent countless hours in a variety of libraries attending a wide selection of children's programs & later on using our local branches to produce hundreds of research papers. Even after we bought them a computer, they still used their
library regularly for reading material, supplemental research, movies & music. Now I am able to take my granddaughter to story hours & educational programs when I babysit, as well as borrow passes to local museums, zoos and other attractions that I might otherwise be unable to afford. She also gets to explore in the children's room/area where she can stop and play, meet other kids and pick out books and videos for herself. One of the best perks of visiting a library is the fun of browsing through the shelves and finding books you never knew existed. I still love to wander through the stacks to see what catches my eye.  Everyone benefits monetarily from all of the free resources available at the library. But the extent to which your local library expands your world and enhances your life is priceless!

I and my family moved to Brockton for a variety of reasons. But one thing we were excited about was that the city cared for its citizenry by providing multiple libraries to suit the citizens’ needs. With a main branch, West & East branch the city appeared to be making a commitment to making education, exposure to literature and internet access available to the whole population. But with the recent proposal by our mayor, all of my feelings about Brockton’s stated desire to be more favorably viewed by outsiders are seriously in check. You can tell a lot about a town by how it treats its libraries. Now I understand what Brockton really wants; its' populace to be illiterate. By forcing the citizens to either drive or walk what amounts to miles away from home to get to a library is nothing short of criminal. I love having a library close to my home and will take a very dim view of Brockton, the city I live in, should the Mayor have his way.

My children and I enjoy all the library offers - books, magazines, music, passes - If we did not have this available to us we would not be able to afford all the above mentioned. The library is truly a gem in our community.

The library and its excellent interlibrary loan system allow me to read books for school, work, and pleasure without spending a dime. It is very valuable to me. I would even be willing to pay a few dollars per use of the library if that would help services not be cut.

I have always enjoyed the library since I was a young child my children enjoy the library. I go to the library at least once a week. I mostly enjoy books on CD for I am disabled it makes it easier for me, cause I no longer can read for long periods of time.

When my children were younger the story time and other special events were always enjoyed by them and me. The fact that there was something for them to do that was free was a great help.
Also, my kids are great readers and I never would be able to provide them with enough reading material if there was no library to borrow books from.