Libraries are where a huge number of book sales come from. And if people don’t check them out, then libraries either close or don’t buy so many books. So of course using libraries is supporting authors.

Also, I challenge your friend to find a single video of an author talking about public libraries in which they aren’t stressing the value and importance of libraries as an institution.

I read it in my mid-20’s and like it. 🤷

I read Animal Farm at like age 7 before I knew who Stalin was or anything about the Soviet Union.