Love, Your Library
A community event bringing donors and supporters together to find joy and belonging through libraries.
Love, Your Library: The Love Keeps Growing
The event might be over, but the stories we heard will keep us motivated to connect, grow and learn.
What does it mean to be loved by your library? It might mean finding a welcoming place after school. Discovering a book that seems written just for you. Or knowing there is someone ready to help you take your next step.
On October 18, supporters of the Foundation for Monterey County Free Libraries gathered at Salt Wood Kitchen in Marina for Love, Your Library. We shared food and conversation with library staff and local author Alison van Diggelen. Together we reflected on the many ways libraries bring people closer.
The afternoon offered time to slow down and hear one another’s stories. We learned about the impact of library programs and explored what it takes to keep those opportunities available across Monterey County. Alison’s reflections on love and community invited us to consider how even small acts of care can create lasting connections.
Highlighted Speaker: Maddox Zarazua
One of the afternoon’s highlights was hearing Maddox Zarazua share his personal library story. His willingness to speak about his experiences brought the impact of our libraries to life. We are grateful to Maddox for lending his voice and reminding us why these welcoming spaces matter. Every person who shares their story helps others see what a library can mean.
Keynote Speaker - Alison van Diggelen
It was a true pleasure to have Alison van Diggelen as our Keynote Speaker.
Drawing on her work with The Love Project, Alison invited us to reflect on the ways we show care and build connections in our communities. Her words offered a thoughtful reminder of how much it matters to feel seen and heard.
Libraries make room for those connections every day. A shared story can spark a conversation. A welcoming space can bring neighbors together. A small act of kindness can stay with someone long after they leave. We are grateful to Alison for helping us pause and appreciate the love that grows through these everyday moments. Learn more about Alison and her work below.
Alison van Diggelen is the author of The LOVE Project, a journey that began with a simple question: “What does love mean to you?” Her intimate conversations with Monterey County locals explore love and loss, and the surprising ways they can bring a community closer. Named an Editor’s Pick by Publishers Weekly BookLife and praised by Kirkus Reviews for celebrating “the courage it takes to live with an open heart,” The LOVE Project has struck a chord with readers near and far. A contributor to the BBC World Service, Alison has given lectures and led workshops internationally, but her greatest inspiration comes from volunteering in the classroom at Rancho Cielo, where her students’ tenacity and big dreams remind her of the power of hope.
“ I love Libraries because they remind us of the power of stories to open hearts, spark curiosity and bring communities together. “
Alison van Diggelen, Keynote speaker
Alison van Diggelen is the author of The LOVE Project, a journey that began with a simple question: “What does love mean to you?” Her intimate conversations with Monterey County locals explore love and loss, and the surprising ways they can bring a community closer. Named an Editor’s Pick by Publishers Weekly BookLife and praised by Kirkus Reviews for celebrating “the courage it takes to live with an open heart,” The LOVE Project has struck a chord with readers near and far. A contributor to the BBC World Service, Alison has given lectures and led workshops internationally, but her greatest inspiration comes from volunteering in the classroom at Rancho Cielo, where her students’ tenacity and big dreams remind her of the power of hope.
“ I love Libraries because they remind us of the power of stories to open hearts, spark curiosity and bring communities together. “