To: Senator Tammy Duckworth, SenatoDick Durbin, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Gov. JB Pritzker Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, Sec.Alexi Giannoulias

Empower yourself with Literacy

Libraries are the life’s blood of our republic. It is the only free government agency open to EVERY citizen. 

Benjamin Franklin, a self-taught Founding Father opened the first public library stressing the importance of literacy for all citizens of the new Republic.

Thomas Jefferson sold his personal library to what became the Library of Congress. 

Perhaps our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln lacking formal education taught himself to read and write and he revered today. JFK and Jimmy Carter all great thinkers and authors. Barack Obama’s soaring oratory and memoir led him from obscurity to the presidency in four years.

In order to achieve greatness, one must embrace the love of reading.

Why is this important?

We live now in a time when information has exploded. Citizens must learn to think critically before determining the health of our country. Instead of relying on cable “news” or unattributed social media posts, they must be able to read and reach their views through reliable sources. This can only be attained by writing. All sources may be obtained free of charge with a library card.