Leslie Beatty

Political platform statement

Hi, I’m Leslie Beatty, and I’m running a Library Trustee position because I’m a fierce advocate of what libraries can do for our community. By having a supportive and educated staff, and by standing firm amidst book content backlash, we, the library users, have a lot to be proud of. We are lucky, too, to have trustees that bring different backgrounds to the Board, though I do think it’s important to include a library professional in the mix.
After I earned a Master’s Degree in Library & Information Science, I worked in many different kinds of libraries, including fifteen years as a fulltime middle school librarian, was employed as a researcher, and wrote a weekly column for a local paper when my family and I still lived in Dallas. In this wonderful town where my husband and I find ourselves now, I’ve explored other areas of interest by serving on the Manchester Welcoming Committee, the board of the Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum, as well as being a docent at the Cape Ann Museum and volunteering at a food pantry. And as you would expect, I am a member of a local book club.
One of the things I’m most passionate about is guiding young readers, especially, to find the books that help them follow their imagination, see themselves, and explore the world.
I understand how a robust library and its creative offerings can benefit our whole community, and I also have some ideas on how to make it stronger. For example, I envision opportunities for more engagement with residents who can’t get to the library; adding partnerships with groups of all ages; and expanding the current number of Library Trustees to represent our town better. In addition, I know that we need the library itself to grow and adapt to our different needs, so I hope that you’ll vote for me so that I, too, can work towards this goal and continue the library’s mission.