When I was a kid, one of the highlights of my week was going to our local library. They had an old Amiga computer you could play with and a small corner where kids could sit and read, overlooking a little area the staff decorated for the seasons. It felt magical to me.

As I got older, the library became a resource for accessing the internet and printing copies of my résumé as I entered the workforce. I’ve had work meetings hosted at the library and spent more than a few afternoons attending author talks or participating in community events there.

The point is that libraries have been a significant part of my life—and they are a vital part of most communities. They provide a place for unhoused people to find relief from the heat and cold. They offer resources to job seekers to support their search. In fact, for every dollar spent on libraries, Ohio sees more than five dollars in economic return.

So it makes you wonder why there is such an aggressive attack on them from Republicans. Between budget cuts and flooding the system with blatant book-ban efforts, our libraries are under siege.

As your lawmaker, I vow to always protect libraries and expand the vital role they play in our state.