Libraries are becoming hubs for public health across the U.S.

As a kid, I've always had a love for the library. My mother would take us on the bus during the summertime and pick out books to read. It was a pastime, the library system, and so, you know, it's always been dear to me. And then when I started my fitness business, to be able to come around full circle and service the community with fitness programs in the public library, you know, something kind of unheard of when we really started. I don't know, it just, it feels great. I love serving my community. Because we are in non-traditional spaces where you mostly wouldn't see a fitness class, you know, for people, and for people to be able to come in and take a class for free is, it's amazing. The overall goal is to, first and foremost, create healthier communities. You know, we're an institution of access. You know, anybody can walk into our libraries and receive services. Libraries for the Heart is our partnership with the American Heart Association. What we've done with them is we've put blood pressure machines in all of our branch locations. Because, you know, they call high blood pressure the silent killer, because a lot of people don't know until it's too late. I'm always saying this, but I think we're the perfect partner for public health institutions. Or health in general, just because, you know, we have the demographic or the people that they want to serve. And that, quite frankly, just need their services. That's the beauty of being in the public library and being in the community. You know, the library system has always been one that meets the needs of a community.