Good books in Damascus: how a library can offer a respite from war and civic disintegration. From the article:

I ask [Abdulbaset Alahmar], in a besieged town that has only had access to two aid convoys in nearly four years, wouldn’t it make more sense for the library enthusiasts to spend their time looking for food rather than books? “I believe the brain is like a muscle. And reading has definitely made mine stronger. My enlightened brain has now fed my soul too,” he replies. “In a sense the library gave me back my life. It’s helped me to meet others more mature than me, people who I can discuss issues with and learn things from. I would say that just like the body needs food, the soul needs books.”