Lower School Librarian Mimi Stauber was recently featured in a Hudson Valley Library Association (HVLA) member spotlight for her advocacy and leadership in expanding access to inclusive literature. In addition to serving as Co-Vice President of the HVLA Board, Mimi is a member of the Executive Board of Open Books, a nonprofit that donates free LGBTQ+ affirming books to public school libraries nationwide.

Open Books partners with the Human Rights Campaign Fund, Equality California, and Unite Against Book Bans, providing schools, especially those with limited funding or support, with collections that help all students feel seen and valued. The organization has already donated more than 5,000 books to over 400 schools across the country, with hundreds more schools on the waitlist.

“All students deserve to see themselves in the books on those shelves—and to be exposed to stories and ideas that broaden their understanding of the world,” says Mimi. “I doubt that there is a librarian among us who hasn’t had the transformative experience of seeing firsthand how powerful it can be for kids to find a book in their library that reflects their own experience.”

Mimi joined the Open Books board in 2024 after being invited by a colleague and friend, motivated by her belief in the transformative power of representation in literature. “With increasing book bans and efforts to limit what young people can access in school libraries, it felt urgent to take a stand,” she shared in her HVLA interview.

Her commitment to ensuring equitable access to diverse stories reflects the same passion she brings to the Berkeley Carroll Library every day, creating a space for curiosity, empathy, and discovery.

Read Mimi’s full HVLA member spotlight here.