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Reading broadens horizons. It allows us to travel in time and space. To see the world through others' eyes. To perceive the world through other senses. And libraries are the vehicles that allow books to open that world to us.

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I have to admit it: Nancy Drew mysteries. The adventures of that smart, capable detective showed me girls could do anything. The mysteries engaged my mind and set me on my own adventures, always trying to figure things out for myself.

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The kaleidoscope that is humanity. Where else but through books can we learn of other ways of doing, other ways of knowing, other dreams and visions? Stories that shaped our past and visualize our futures. We would lose our sense of self and compassion for others.

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Reading exercises the brain to understand ourselves, others, and our world. The freedom to read helps us learn about things we may not know about or may fear. Reading about topics beyond our perceived limits and boundaries is one step in breaking barriers and divides, and prepares us to be empathetic and understanding of the unknown.

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Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What Youʻre Going Through by Iyanla Vanzant. Through sharing her life struggles, experiences of abuse, and broken heartedness, Iyanla writes to teach about spiritual philosophies to forgive those who harmed her, without excusing them for what theyʻve done, and to find the energy to change her life for the better. Her book came to me during a time I was seeking help in handling my own inner and outer struggles and how I can see troubled relationships in a new way, to move forward with lightness and in positive growth.

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We would lose chances to be tender and healing with shadows in ourselves, which is also mirrored in the deep, heartfelt experiences that are written and described by others. We would lose our ability to be humane and human with each other.

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Curiosity is something everyone has, but not always nurtured. As we grow, it can be actively stifled by the inability to explore our interests and answer our questions. Libraries allow people to expand their worlds outside of their own experience, nurturing curiosity, understanding, empathy, and critical thinking.

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The Last Herald Mage series by Mercedes Lackey. It was the first time I'd ever seen representation in fantasy. It blew my mind - no one ever really talked about LGBTQ+ people or issues back then let alone made them the main character, so it was very eye-opening. It was like: wow, there are different people out there. Today we see more representation in books, but back in the 90's mainstream sword and sorcery fantasy I'd never read anything like it. 

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I think humanity as a whole would be the poorer for it. People bemoan the loss of the library of Alexandria and all the knowledge that was lost. Today we're doing it to ourselves. Most of us will never travel the world and experience all different cultures and meet different people, but we can read about it. In some cases these stories are the last remnants of a lost people...but we know they existed, because we have their stories.

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Ever since I realized the safety and comfort the library gave me at a very young age, I knew it was a haven. It was an escape where I could pick up any book, and it was a different adventure, a free ticket to another destination.

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In my early teens, I came across Jackie Chan's biography. I read that in his youth, his injuries didn't hinder him from practicing martial arts. For example, if he injured his foot, he continued to train with his arms. I learned that one is not totally useless because of one injury. Being injured shouldn't be a cause for stagnation. Keep moving forward, be creative in the process. 

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There would be many lost opportunities to learn from others, from the past, from current events, and from what could be tomorrow. Have you ever listened to that song that speaks to your heart? Some make you happy, some make you cry, and so on. Books help us feel alive and help explore who we are, much like songs. 
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As a society, we improve ourselves and others by sharing ideas. Reading books with all sorts of ideas help us understand different perspectives. This is important so we do not repeat history. 

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"The Bloody Chamber" by Angela Carter. Short stories of fairy tale retellings. As a kid, I loved fairy tales. Reading "The Bloody Chamber" opened up a different meaning to these stories. They were more adult, more feminist, and made me question many things about society and roles people have. Fairy tales weren't just for children. They can be open to interpretation and unlimited in their audience. 

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Humanity and empathy. Reading stories helped me understand feelings, emotions, and perspectives. We need access to books without censorship to exercise our humanity. 

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The freedom to read matters to me because it directly impacts how students learn, think, and grow. When we have access to reading material in any form, we're able to develop critical thinking skills, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the world. Without it, students would lose opportunities to explore ideas and make judgements. 

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The book that changed my life is Live Life in Crescendo by Stephen R. Covey because it shifted the way I view growth and purpose. The central idea—that your most important work and contributions are always ahead of you—helped me to reframe how I approach challenges and opportunities. Instead of feeling defined by past successes or setbacks, I began to see every stage of life as a chance to keep building, learning, and giving more to others.

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We would deny students the opportunity to confront challenging issues, observe lives that differ from their own, and understand the significance of their cultures, aspirations, and hardships.  Without those stories, curiosity is suppressed, empathy is weakened, and critical thinking is inhibited.  The shelves would feel less vibrant, less representative of the varied communities in which we live, and less able to equip readers to participate critically in a complicated world, according to both educators and students.

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Because books connect us. They make us feel less alone. I've never really felt like I belonged anywhere. Books, in a small way, gave me a home, a sense of belonging. 

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Everything I Never Told You. The story is about a family where silence and pressure make one daughter feel invisible. I read it every few years. The loneliness of not being seen. The weight of trying to meet expectations. The sadness of feeling like you don't belong. It is painful but also comforting, as it reminds me that I'm not alone in my own feelings. 

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Humanity. All of our stories matter. Books remind us of that. Without all stories, there's a very real risk that only certain stories will be told. And what message does that send to us all? That only those stories matter? That they are the only ones deserving of our time? That's ridiculous. 

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Books gave me stability and hope when life felt uncertain. I grew up in a single parent household, with my grandparents helping to raise me, and the library felt like a safe place to me. I could grab a book and escape into other worlds, whether it was magic, adventure, or just kids being silly. Reading helped me dream bigger.

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Harry Potter for sure. I related to Harry a lot, and liked the way others helped to guide him. My grandparents reminded me of the way Dumbledore and Hagrid looked out for him. The series showed me that family can be chosen and that friends can become a kind of anchor. 

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We'd lose hope and empathy. Books like Captain Underpants made me laugh when I needed humor and joy. Harry Potter made me believe in strength, family, and loytalty. Taking stories away means some child won’t see themselves or won’t find comfort in a tough moment. It would also rob us of voices that challenge us and help us grow. Losing stories doesn’t just hurt one person, it weakens the whole community, because we stop learning from each other’s journeys and struggles.

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Freedom to read matters to me because books let me explore new ideas. I can read about kids like me or people who live very different lives. Stories teach me how others think and feel, and they help me understand myself better. 

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Heartstopper changed my life because it showed me how important it is to be yourself. The story is about love, friendship, and learning to accept who you are. Sometimes people are mean or don’t understand, but the book showed how strong kindness and support can be. It made me want to stand up for friends and celebrate people who are different from me. Reading it helped me feel more confident and reminded me that being accepted for who you are is what matters most.

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I think we would lose voices that make the world feel complete. Books can remind us that love, friendship, and identity matter. Other stories show families, adventures, or struggles that may not look like our own, but that teach us important lessons. Without them, we would miss chances to connect, learn, and feel less alone. Stories are not just fun, they are pieces of real life. So losing them would kinda mean losing pieces of ourselves too.