I was never homeless but I was in such a bad place, mentally, when I was a teen and the library was my sanctuary. The 4th floor of the Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago. :') I have so many really fond memories of that place. Finally getting peace and quiet away from home. Having a place where I could read things and study. Or just hide away from everything and myself.
It makes me sad that there are people who want to get rid of these places. And what's worse is that they'd use exactly these reasons to get rid of them--the homeless and the recluses hang out there!
The idea of Amazon taking over the library literally has tears in my eyes right now, in the middle of a public room: absolutely not.
I grew up with no resources, uneducated parents, and the library was my refuge and why I made it to a successful position the first time.
Take the Library away and I'm done for, and poor people never have a chance.
> We give them a running start in helping improve their lives.
Oh, you can check out books there, too.