I joined the Community Foundation of Sarasota County as president and CEO three weeks ago, and while I served the Sarasota area in many ways as a nonprofit leader before that, this is the first time my work has been solely focused on this region, and I still consider myself somewhat of a newcomer. So I recently did what a lot of people do when they move to a new community: I got a library card.

I have carried a library card for almost my whole life, but there was something quietly meaningful about standing at the counter at Selby Public Library and adding a new one to my collection. It felt like both a personal milestone and a reminder of what libraries represent in a community: access, possibility and belonging.

One of my favorite memories with my daughters is of taking them to get their first library cards. Watching their excitement as they held something that felt official and important, even at a young age, was a joy. It was a simple moment, but one that reinforced a lifelong habit and a shared love of reading that connects us still today.

Libraries have always mattered to me. They are among the few places left that ask very little of us and offer so much in return. They are welcoming and quiet, but they are also powerful spaces where curiosity is encouraged and everyone is invited to learn. A library card represents more than access to books. It provides access to ideas, history and perspectives that help us better understand one another.

That belief is reflected in the work of the Community Foundation, where literacy and education are seen as foundational to opportunity and long-term stability. Through support for libraries, initiatives that help teachers and families tackle reading disabilities like dyslexia and scholarships that help 500-plus students each year, we are focused on removing barriers and expanding access, because we know that knowledge changes lives.

Books have been a constant in my own life. I love the smell of them. I love being surrounded by them. There is not a day that goes by that I do not read. In fact, I usually have two or three books going at once, so I can choose the one that fits my mood, whether I’m looking for comfort, challenge or reflection.

Some books stay with us long after we have finished the last page. Anne of Green Gables taught me about imagination and resilience. A Land Remembered deepened my appreciation for Florida’s history and the perseverance of those who shaped it. More recently, Remarkably Bright Creatures reminded me of the quiet ways connection and compassion can change lives.

Reading does more than just inform us. It shapes us. It builds empathy, strengthens critical thinking and helps us navigate a complicated world with a little more understanding. Libraries sit at the heart of that ecosystem. They are anchors in our neighborhoods and gateways to possibility.

So while getting a new library card may seem like a small gesture, it was a reminder of something I have always believed: Strong communities are built one reader, one learner and one story at a time.

Jessica Muroff is the President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.