Photo by New Rochelle BID
Why Our Library Matters
“The library is an arena of possibility, opening both a window into the soul and a door onto the world.”
--Rita Dove, Pulitzer prize winning poet
National poet laureate and first African American to hold that position
Why I'm Running for Library Board of Trustees
New Rochelle Public Library is the most utilized library in Westchester County, with the lowest number of paid library staff in the county. Even with this lean and dedicated staff, in the past 13 months, the library has been a beacon for our community, with continued programming, curbside pickups and additional resources for students and families.
In addition, while it’s been closed due to the pandemic, it has been undergoing renovations to continue to meet the needs of our community.
I believe that the strongest libraries truly meet the needs of the community -- they are situated in a central location, and provide services that continue to enhance the community. Libraries are essential to our civic infrastructure.
New Rochelle’s library does an exemplary job at fostering community and meeting the growing needs of our city’s diverse populations. There is so much that the library provides for our city and our families, and I believe it has the potential to do even more.
Our library building still needs critical capital improvements because of decades of deferred maintenance. It is important to ensure that the building and its spaces are safe in order to fulfill its important role and services now and in the future. New Rochelle’s library is essential to our city’s civic fabric.
I have spent my career working with and for nonprofit organizations to advance literacy, education, equity, human rights and social justice in order to build and strengthen communities.
I believe I have the necessary skills and commitment to ensure that our library continues to serve as the critical resource it has been to our New Rochelle community.
That’s why I’m running for Library Board of Trustees.