The Places a Library Can Take You
Some of my earliest and happiest memories are tied to libraries.
I have always been curious by nature, and as a child, there was something magical about walking into a library and knowing that an entire world of possibilities was waiting on the shelves. Finding a great book could take my imagination somewhere I had never been before.
Recently, my mom was looking through some old photo albums and discovered a newspaper clipping of me. I was in second grade, standing beside my school librarian in the Fort Smith Public Schools System. Seeing that photograph brought back so many wonderful memories.
Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary were among my favorite childhood authors who helped shape a generation of young readers. I also remember the excitement of the Scholastic Book Fairs—filling out my order form, then eagerly waiting for the day our books would arrive. Those small moments stay with you.
My curiosity eventually led me into a career as a broadcast journalist, where asking questions, seeking answers, and discovering new stories became part of my daily life. It’s how I learned so much about Northwest Arkansas. Now, in my career as a non-profit executive, I’m thrilled to be a part of the Bentonville Library Foundation.
Today, I get that same wonderful feeling every time I walk into the Bentonville Public Library.
I love seeing parents reading with their children, caregivers bringing little ones to Storytime, women gathering for book clubs, children learning Spanish, and professionals coming together for civic meetings. The library is filled with people of all ages and backgrounds, each using this remarkable place in a different way.
The library truly is the heartbeat of our community. It is a place to learn, discover, create, connect—and let your imagination take you somewhere new. It is a community hub in every sense of the word.
As we enter this season of giving, I hope you will consider a gift to the Bentonville Library Foundation. Your support helps strengthen the library and the programs, resources, learning opportunities, and connections that make it such a vital part of Bentonville.
One of our Foundation board members, Howard Kerr, says it best:
“When you give a gift to the Library Foundation, it is the one place that has the potential to touch everybody in that community.”
I think about that quote often. Because whether you are a lifelong reader, a curious child, or simply someone who values having a place where everyone belongs, the library has a way of touching all of our lives.
I hope you’ll consider being a part of our story.
Sincerely,
Kelly
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