I give to the Albuquerque Public Library Foundation because libraries are one of the few places that belong to everyone. They are where curiosity is encouraged, opportunity is shared, and community is strengthened—no matter a person’s age, income, or background.

I grew up attending library story times and reading as many books as I could during the summer. A formative memory for me was when my librarian challenged me to put down the easy book that I was about to check out, and instead, pursue a more difficult book series. She knew that it would help me grow and that I would enjoy the story. The love of books, both paper and audio, has followed me ever since.

Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s in a small, bucolic town in Connecticut, we had access to many

things that most small towns do not have – including a public library. As a kid, I spent many

school nights there, sometimes using it as an excuse to meet up with friends to “work on school

projects,” or simply to find some good magazines to lose myself in for a few hours during the

oppressive summer heat and humidity.

I still remember the first book I read that made a real impact on me and that wasn’t required

reading for school and thinking, “I want to read more books like this.” I kept returning to the

library hoping to discover something as interesting as that book. My quest has never stopped

because I never stopped chasing that feeling. My interest even fueled a desire to learn other

languages, in part so that I could also read news and great literature in its native language.

When I moved to Albuquerque, I was so glad to once more take advantage of public libraries. I

love the smell of library books and the slow, quiet, curious activities going on around me.

There’s no judgement, no pressure, no rush—just the peace of being in an ecosystem where

your curiosity is rewarded and limited only by your own imagination. There is something there

for everyone.

As a child, I took this for granted. Now, as an adult, surrounded by all the different ways to

consume media quickly, digitally, 24/7, for better or for worse, and having the benefit of

hindsight, it makes me want to give back, if only in a small way. I want to give back so others

can have opportunities to explore the library, not just to have access to free books but to be able

to experience the slow, quiet, judgement-free zone that can help feed the curiosity within all of

us.