Director

Director's Update – November 2021

November is my favorite month of the year. I love crisp mornings, roasted root vegetables, and the color of turning leaves. November is also the month we celebrate Thanksgiving, and it feels appropriate I use this letter to share with you some of what I am grateful for in my first year here at the Library.

First and foremost, I’m grateful for the staff. This is no surprise as I frequently hear from so many of you how appreciative you are as well of their dedication, creativity, and resiliency. This year we’ve been tested, but we’ve been able to operate safely for the public. We’ve expanded hours three times this year – now open evenings and seven days a week across the system -- and we continue to add new services. A great example of that is “Ida – An Idaho Library App” now available for you to search our catalog, manage your holds, and check-out books from your phone.  

I’m also grateful for the tremendous partnerships we have with community organizations, especially those who share with us a deep commitment to children and families. Boise Parks and Recreation is helping us hold outdoor story times at local parks so kids can enjoy stories from their favorite librarians again. The Friends of the Library helped us provide thousands of books to kids and families for Summer Reading with the goal of making reading a fun, daily habit. And in partnership with the Boise School District, we served more than 1,700 meals to kids this summer.

Finally, I am grateful for the community of Boise which has welcomed me with open arms. You’ve shared with me your deep love and appreciation for the Library and your commitment to its future growth and evolution. You continue to advocate for the Library and its capacity to have a deep and lasting impact in the community. I’m so excited to build on the great assets we have in place and work to build an even brighter future in the upcoming year.

Please feel free to reach out to me at any time at LibraryDirector@cityofboise.org. I’d love to hear what you are reading or listening to, or even what you are grateful for this November.

Thank you.