In this child’s hand, he holds power. The power to unlock doors, worlds, and the universe. At age one, he got his first library card. A card that will unlock many doors for him throughout his life – those that are real, those that are imaginary, those that someday could be.

At this library, our Atheneum, Maria Mitchell was the first librarian. It saw the first anti-slavery convention on Nantucket. Its Great Hall and attendees witnessed Frederick Douglass’ first speech to a mixed race audience. Numerous other luminaries came before Douglass – from island-born Lucretia Coffin Mott to Emerson, Thoreau, and William Lloyd Garrison. It was a space filled with books that opened the door and the world to Nantucket’s daughters and sons – always thirsty for knowledge. It was a repository for fantastic finds from around the world brought back by island whalemen, travelers, visitors, coastal traders, merchant ships, and fishing vessels.

He may not remember when he got his library card since he is so young. I acquired mine a few years older but remember that day. I still have my paper Atheneum card from when I was a child and when the children’s room was down in the basement. People screw up their faces remembering that dank space – I remember the wonder it held – and the orange/red carpet and being closed if it flooded. But that didn’t stop me – we were there several times a week. I also still have my library card from the town I grew up in in Connecticut – another place we were always visiting. As the daughter of a former English teacher who is also a voracious reader, books have always been a part of my world and have let me escape to other places and learn about new things. Now, my son will know the wonder of a book – the wonder of a library – and the treasures it holds and the history the Nantucket Atheneum has witnessed as well.

JNLF