A TEEN’S PERSPECTIVE

Good evening,

My name is Ailey, and I’m a volunteer at our neighborhood library and am a part of the teen advisory board. Because of this I’m here today to give you a kid’s perspective on a new library.

Now, I know there are people who feel that building a new library isn’t necessary, and that we should make do with the old one. But take it from me, I’ve worked there, and I’ve been there and trust me, as much as I love serving the library, it's not a place you want to be or spend your time in. Our library is the oldest branch library within the group of 26 Harris County Public Libraries, and it’s time for a change.

A lot of innovation has occurred in the span of around the last 60 years (wow that’s a while ago!). So now our library's technology is outdated, and it just does not provide the type of resources that other libraries do. The staff room smells moldy, the bookshelves are falling apart, and the space is cramped. We can’t even fit all the books that we have, despite having a much larger collection than many of the other Harris County Libraries. A library is supposed to be a safe, welcoming space for everyone, and our current one simply can’t provide that anymore.

Our library is a place where kids come to do homework and where adults can take classes. A new library can provide even more resources for these things—more space for learning, better technology, and more opportunities for people to connect with the knowledge they need to grow.

Give us a reason to be proud of our community. Because I don't feel proud when I see families walk into the library and immediately walk out because of its run-down state. I don't feel proud when I see the librarians working so hard to set up and fabricate events only to have no one show up because of the cramped and unaccommodating space.

Think about what we’re investing in. We’re not just putting up walls and shelves. We’re building a foundation for the future of this community—a place where everyone, no matter their background, can access knowledge, improve their lives, and come together as one. The library has already brought me together with many other like-minded and kind hearted people that have been crucial mentors to me. Just think of what else it could do.

So, yes, the old library has served us for many years, but it’s time for something better. A new library will be a space that reflects the vibrancy and diversity of our community, a space that encourages learning, creativity, and growth.

I truly believe that by building a new library, we’re investing in the future of every person who lives here—teenagers like me, families, seniors, and everyone in between. Let’s be honest, my generation doesn’t want to hang out in a musty crusty library!

Let’s make this investment in ourselves. Let’s build a new library, and let it become the heart of our neighborhood.

Thank you

Please share Ailey’s voice with your friends and neighbors.

ON MAY 3RD, VOTE YES ON PROP D!
Early Voting: April 22nd-29th