Dear Relatives, Colleagues, Friends, and Supporters,

I am thrilled to write this message as the new Executive Director of the East Side Freedom Library. I first want to extend my gratitude for your continued support and contributions to the library. I am forever grateful to our founding Co-Directors, Beth Cleary and Peter Rachleff, for their vision of building a community-based library that has become an integral part of the East Side. Thank you, Beth and Peter, for turning your vision into a place where not only knowledge is stored but also where we incubate the collective knowledge and expertise of many collaborators. I am fortunate to continue the work with an amazing team of staff and supporters. 

Since our founding in 2013, the East Side Freedom Library has inspired solidarity, worked for justice, and advocated for equity for all. Under the direction of Peter and Beth, we were reminded of the importance of solidarity work, particularly the intersections of labor, immigration, economic opportunity, and housing justice. The library has become a beloved institution, resource, and space where individuals from immigrant and refugee communities like the one I grew up in can call home. 

Joining the East Side Freedom Library feels like a homecoming of sorts. My wife, Gao, grew up on the East Side and often visited the former Arlington Hills Library. She recalls coming to the library, bolting straight towards the children’s book area, and reading for hours. As a neighborhood library, Arlington Hills Library has enlightened young readers like Gao. The East Side Freedom Library has, for the past eight years, continued that effort in offering opportunities to engage young minds through many of our public programs. We are excited about being a site for History Day mentoring again for the 2023 theme of “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” I am sure the vast materials at the library will provide resources for History Day students to challenge and interrogate history. 

The East Side Freedom Library has always relied on the generosity of supporters who have donated their time and expertise. One thing I have always admired about the East Side Freedom Library is the wonderful group of staff, board of directors, volunteers, and collaborators that has transformed the library into a cornerstone of the community. I have been impressed by the innovative work many of them have inspired. One of those supporters and collaborators is Bruce Willms. As the head cataloguer, Bruce leads a constant stream of volunteers processing, cataloging, and shelving our over 33,000 books and materials. Thank you, Bruce, for being a continuous source of knowledge and inspiration. Your expertise literally helps us store knowledge. 

With Love, Solidarity, and Compassion, 

Saengmany Ratsabout