On a beautiful day in New York City, four-year old Helen held her mother’s hand as she made her way up the concrete steps. Helen’s excitement grew. Today was her first trip to the library. Helen was smitten. And books became a central force in her life from that day forward.

Helen devoured books growing up. “Books can take you anywhere,” she says. “And you’re never bored. I love all the books. I can’t just pick one favorite.”

Helen ended up in Austin in 1953 when her husband was accepted into his post-graduate program at UT. Raising five children kept Helen busy. But she made sure to make reading a priority. She began reading to her children before they were born and throughout their childhood. She volunteered at her children’s elementary school library. She joined the PTA and set up a program to have children practice reading out loud.

For 28 years, also she served on the City of Austin’s Library Commission. Among her proudest accomplishments while on the commission, was to recruit more people of color on the board. With more equitable representation, the library commission invested in getting more books into more communities through book mobiles, new local libraries, and other initiatives. Because, as Helen says, “The best thing you can do for a child is Read. Read. Read.”

When 93-year-old Helen moved into Westminster, she immediately joined the Library Committee. She was instrumental in having the old library re-imagined into a new, grander space after Westminster expanded. She served as president for several years and during her tenure, the library grew to a 1,500-book collection, complete with book reviews and author appearances. Helen also helped organize the yearly Westminster Book Festival until her recent retirement. Helen is still a fixture at the library. She still can’t choose a favorite book. And she still advices you to Read. Read. Read.