Araceli's Love for Libraries

I’m a professional librarian, so advocating for libraries has always felt less like a cause I chose and more like a responsibility I carry.

I believe libraries are some of the most important gateways in our communities—places where everyone is welcome, everyone can learn, and everyone can find something they need. They connect people to information, opportunity, culture, and to one another. And importantly, they do all of this without asking what you can afford or what you can give in return.

Lately, though, libraries have taken on an even more personal meaning for me.

As my family has navigated a year we never could have anticipated, our library has become a safe haven. It is a place where my daughter can simply be a kid: discovering new books, playing, exploring, and being surrounded by her community. It is also a place where I can take a breath, connect with others, and feel a little more like myself during a season when so much of life has felt uncertain.

That is what libraries do. They meet us where we are—whether we are learning, growing, looking for connection, seeking refuge, or simply trying to make it through a hard day. They are there for us in the ordinary moments and, sometimes, in the moments when we need them most.

I advocate for libraries because I have seen their impact both professionally, as a librarian, and personally, as a parent and member of my community. Libraries belong to all of us, and I believe they deserve our investment, our advocacy, and our support.

That belief is also why I’m proud to serve as a board member for the Friends of the Dallas Public Library. For more than 75 years, the Friends have helped ensure that our libraries can continue to be places of opportunity, connection, and discovery for generations to come. From supporting capital campaigns and bookmobiles to funding programs and services, the Friends have helped our libraries do a little bit of everything.

Today, that support includes SMART Summer Reading, library staff development, branch support, early childhood literacy, vibrant neighborhoods and multicultural programming, and adult education opportunities. These programs may look different, but they all serve the same purpose: making sure our libraries can meet people wherever they are and provide the resources, experiences, and sense of community they need.

For me, supporting the Friends is about making sure that the safe haven my family has found in our library remains there for the next family, the next child, and the next generation.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting our libraries and making sure they remain places where everyone has a door they can walk through, a resource they can count on, and a community that welcomes them in. Join me in supporting the Friends of the Dallas Public Library this North Texas Giving Day and help Keep the Story Going!