The Library was a starting place for Ruby Doub – where she had her first job at age 14.
“It was not simply a paycheck for a soon-to-be high schooler,” she said. “Rather, it was a place that provided a foundation for both financial and educational freedom.”
Doub learned to mend books, perfect her card cataloging, and expand her vocabulary, all of which enlivened her world. That inspiration lingered, even after 25 years of service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and in her current role as Executive Assistant to Commissioner Chad Saylor. Now, Doub is one of four new Dauphin County Library System board trustees, for 2023.
“Upon my return, I was reminded of how The Library uniquely serves as a source of community and as a light for our ever-diversifying county,” she said. “Those reminders have led to this moment in my career in hopes that my role will continue to elevate the vitality and necessity of The Library in all our lives today.”
Why is diversity, equity, and inclusion important for The Library? When I think of DEI, I immediately am reminded of two things: How essential it is to understand our unique perspectives and narratives in the world, and how libraries are beacons in facilitating those various understandings. The Library has the ability to usher in diverse perspectives, foster lifelong access, and advance bespoke learning in ways no other entity is able to freely do. Especially in Dauphin County, we serve a unique community of people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, belief systems, socioeconomic statuses, and more. Even having staff across those populations can make a difference in inclusion and belonging for people across all walks of life. The Library is therefore a role model for not only who we are individually, but who we can become, together.
What does your love of reading and words mean to you? One of my favorite quotes is by Frederick Douglass, who said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” I believe words are the most powerful tools we have in this world, and they create the freedom that is beyond limitation. When we read, we can escape, enlighten, expand, and elevate all at once. And no other element of human life has the power to do that like words.
What are you reading? Right now, my daughter and I are doing a mini-book club together, and we’re reading “All About Love” by bell hooks. I love the author and how clearly she unpacks ‘love’ and its sophisticated nature, but I also am thoroughly enjoying re-learning what love and self-love mean across generations of women.
Why do the Dauphin County Commissioners invest in Dauphin County Library System? The Dauphin County Commissioners have long seen the value in The Library as a part of our community, but most importantly, they see it as an investment in generations to come of Dauphin County residents. The Library is a guardian of hope and positive progress, both of which will always be essential for our county leadership.
What role do you believe The Library plays in creating change in the community? My favorite part about The Library is its ability to preserve history. When we continue to add diversity understandings to our breadth of knowledge, we facilitate a more equitable future for our community. An example of this is the Hari Jones Series and Collection. Over the last five years, I’ve had the privilege of not only honoring a historian who was committed to sharing knowledge about our local history, but I’ve also been able to expose hundreds of locals to elements of our past that many of us knew nothing about. None of this would have been possible without The Library, and it’s simply another excellent example of the powerful catalyzer our Library system has become.