My first memory of a library is from when I was maybe 3 years old.
My hometown library was small, and I remember one particular shelf — it was low to the ground, and the books had yellow spines, because they were all Curious George books. Every visit, I would go directly to that shelf and check out all I could.
I can trace a direct line from those early memories to my success in reading and school later on.
I still visit and use my library as an adult. Libraries are for all ages, and everyone. Since 1997, I have been a resident of Olympia, and used the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) system. In addition to books, TRL library branches offer free access to LinkedIn Learning, for career certifications and software training. This is invaluable to residents looking to improve their job prospects.
TRL also offers things to residents that are not available anywhere else — where else can you print 200 pages a month for free, have a trained library worker help you or an older family member learn to use your new phone, borrow a book that would cost $30 to purchase, and much more?
These services make our region stronger and a better place to call home.
About 360,000 residents of Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor and Pacific County have a library card. Voting yes for Proposition 1 to increase the levy rate for TRL libraries means restoring more hours and staff to our local library branches, and increasing materials available to borrow.
The cost to an average homeowner in Thurston County would be about $5.92 a month. Timberland's library levy has not increased in 25 years. This measure raises it from $0.22 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $0.35 — an increase of 13 cents.
Everyone needs our libraries and I urge you to vote yes for Proposition 1 for Timberland libraries this fall.
Meghan Hall
Olympia
