“Books Took Me Everywhere!”

For Dr. Priscilla Douglas, the library isn’t just a building, it’s a lifelong companion. Raised in Bedford, Massachusetts, she visited the local library weekly with her mother and fondly recalls special outings to the Central Library in Copley Square with her aunt and cousin. “James Baldwin once said he read his way out of Harlem, and I know exactly what he meant,” she says. “Books took me everywhere.”

As a former chair of the Boston Public Library’s Board of Trustees, Priscilla’s relationship with the Library is deep and enduring. She has visited all 25 neighborhood branches, and the Roxbury Branch holds professional significance as well: her first major job helping adults earn their GED at the Urban League was located just across the street. “The Branch was a vital resource for my students, offering them access, dignity, and the tools to shape their own futures.”

Priscilla has also made the Library a part of her future by including the Boston Public Library Fund in her will. “I’ve spent my life trying to make a difference,” she says. “This legacy gift ensures that impact continues. By including the BPL in my will, I’m investing in equity, access, education, and civic engagement for generations to come. It’s my way of staying a devoted patron, even from the great beyond.”

From the murals in the Abbey Room and the Leventhal Map & Education Center to the vibrant branch network across Boston, Priscilla sees the Library as a living, breathing civic institution. “I’ve always said the health of the Library is measured by its capacity to welcome and collaborate. The BPL thrives because people care. And it endures because people show up.”

Her advice to others who are considering naming the Library in their estate? “Do it. It’s one of the most powerful and joyful ways to give back. You’re not just leaving money, you’re leaving a message. A message that libraries matter. And that they will always play a vital role in the advancement of learning.”