On Saturday, January 16, Laredo's only bookstore closed. Officially, it was B. Dalton's bookstore, but Laredo citizens claimed it as their special place, mourning its death as one would a favorite family member. It may have been inevitable (Barnes & Noble announced long ago they were closing all B. Dalton's) but that made it no less of a shock and heartbreak to many members of the community. Yes, you can buy books off the Internet. You can go to the public library and check out books to read.
But Mary Benavides and her staff won't be there to greet you with a smile and tell you they just got a new book by your favorite author. Mary is the main reason Laredo had adopted the bookstore, and if you went by on the final day of business you would have seen a who's who of Laredo stopping to say farewell and buy a book. Few left without a purchase and none left without a special word, a hug and a smile from Mary. She has shown through her three decades of dedication to the readers of Laredo that she is a vital part of the community.
Even in the midst of closing the store, Mary has helped us plan for this year's One City event, suggesting authors, venues and activities. Watching Mary in action has humbled me. No matter what I do, I will never touch as many hearts as she does on a daily basis. I wish only the best in life for Mary and her staff. She deserves far more than we realize.
If nothing else, the citizens of Laredo have made the country aware that we are more than a group of illiterate, poor people. We are people who love to read, love to learn and love those who share these passions. When authors visit, they leave raving about the generosity and the earnestness of the people they met. I understand this because I am not a native Laredoan, but have lived here for more than 20 years. I have never met anything other than acceptance, and for that I thank everyone. I see people who have little sharing with those who have less. I watch families celebrate academic achievements of their children. When people look at Laredo, they should see a place with some problems, but with citizens who are willing to fix these problems, and who have tremendous hope for the future.
Thanks to all those who have supported Mary and her bookstore through the years, and thanks to all those who have made our One City, One Book such a success that we are being used as a model throughout the nation. It is because of you that we have been a success, and if we do get another bookstore it will be up to you to show the nation that we really do read and that we really do want a place where we can touch literature and talk to someone who understands our love of reading. A new bookstore will live or die on the actions of our citizens. Hopefully we will never have to mourn the loss of another bookstore.
Beverly Herrera
President
The Food for Thought Foundation
