By J. Adrian Betancourt, Host, The Miami Book Hub

When I first began imagining The Miami Book Hub, Lydia Lopez was one of the first people I wanted at the table. She directs the Miami-Dade Public Library System, and in Episode 26 my worlds collided a little: Lydia is also a County colleague, and I finally had the chance to welcome her to the program.

“Libraries are the glue that holds our community together,” Lydia told me near the start of our conversation. The rest of the episode made a pretty convincing case.

A second-generation Miamian who grew up in Westchester, Lydia began as a patron of the Westchester Regional Library. Today she oversees 50 locations, soon to become 51. That growth alone should settle the recurring question of whether libraries are still necessary. They are not disappearing; they are expanding because people still need them.

Of course, the modern library extends well beyond its shelves. MDPLS will deliver books to your home for free. A library card also unlocks eBooks, audiobooks, movies, music, newspapers, research databases and online learning. At selected branches, residents can apply for passports or even check out passes to local museums. 

The conversation became especially personal when we turned to resources for writers. Library workshops helped me understand not only the craft of writing, but also the maze of publishing, distribution, marketing and creating an imprint. “I don’t know that I could have done this without the library system,” I told Lydia.

That support will gain a bigger stage through Bookmarked: A Festival of Authors, Readers and Book Clubs, which combines the library’s Local Author Book Fair with the Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library Book Club Fair. Scheduled for January 23 at the Main Library, it will bring national headliners, local authors, readers, vendors and book clubs together in one place. Count me in.

One of the episode’s most moving moments came when Lydia described Connections, a service for residents who cannot easily visit a branch because of a disability or physical limitation. Staff members help identify books based on each person’s interests, then mail the materials out and provide free return shipping. “You don’t ever have to step foot in the library, but the world is still there waiting for you,” she said. Or, as I put it, the library comes to you.

We also looked ahead to artificial intelligence. Lydia sees AI as a potentially useful tool, but emphasized that “critical thinking is paramount.” Librarians will remain essential because they help people sort fact from fiction and navigate an increasingly crowded information landscape. In other words, the technology may change, but the need for trusted human guides will not.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and the card is free. The system’s Poetry Contest for Teens runs September 14 through October 17, with plenty more events for readers and writers throughout the year.

Learn more about the Miami-Dade Public Library System at MDPLS.org. Watch this episode and explore more conversations at TheMiamiBookHub.com. Please like, subscribe and share. And, as always… keep reading, keep writing and stay curious, Miami!