As someone who uses the Eugene Public Library regularly and who volunteered at the information desk for several years, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand what the library means to this community.

The library is one of the few places that truly belongs to everyone. During my time volunteering, I watched a remarkable cross-section of Eugene walk through those doors every day: students, seniors, job seekers, parents with toddlers, people experiencing homelessness, lifelong learners and curious readers of all ages. It’s one of the only civic spaces where everyone shows up and everyone is welcome.

One of my favorite moments was watching children run through the doors with excitement. For many families, the library is their gateway to books, learning and imagination. It’s a place where kids discover stories, where teens find safe places to study and where adults can access information, technology and resources that help them navigate life.

But over the years, I’ve also watched the strain on the system grow. Budgets have been cut again and again. As a user, I feel the impacts directly: longer wait times for books, fewer copies available and reduced capacity for the programs and services that make the library such a vibrant community resource. There’s simply no more meat on the bone.

Libraries are a core piece of infrastructure for a healthy community. They support education, lifelong learning, workforce development and civic life. When we fund them well, the entire community benefits.

The proposed library levy is a practical way to protect and stabilize this essential service. Eugene has used a levy model before, and it works because it provides a dedicated funding stream that ensures the library can plan, grow and serve our community reliably.

If we want a city where children discover a love of reading, where people can access knowledge freely, and where community members from every background have a place to learn and gather, then we need to invest in the institutions that make that possible.

For me, supporting the Eugene Public Library levy is an easy choice.

Kelly Johnson
Eugene