Meet Eve: Student, Adventure-Chaser and Library Lover.
- Mackenna Williamson
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 12
As one of the five members of OU for EveryLibrary, Eve El Aatifi is a passionate advocate for EveryLibrary and its mission. Learn more about her childhood and the experiences that shaped her love for libraries below.
Libraries are more than books - they’re memories.
When I was a kid, my family and I just moved to the United States, and we struggled significantly, both with resources and with communication. Fortunately, libraries were our saviors and still continue to be.
Dad needed to print some important documents but no printer? Library. Mom needed to better understand some English terms? Time for a library trip. Sister needed a hundred-dollar textbook? Library time! Libraries were always there for us when we needed them, for important errands, for cheap but reliable resources, for learning about the new world around us; they hold a special memory for me. As a kid, I struggled to communicate with people due to cultural and language barriers so I ended up pretty lonely most of my time.
Fortunately, while people couldn’t understand me well and vice versa, the books and films I found in libraries definitely did. My parents couldn’t afford all the books I wanted to experience, so every week they’d take me to the nearby library and let me stay for hours.
From then on, the library changed from a place of resources for my family, to a place where I was able to fly through the sky, meet new amazing people, travel the world, and experience the dreams I always had, all in the pages of my favorite books. Not only could I have these great experiences, but I could freely take them home to have a piece of my wishes always there for me when I needed them, no matter how hard things would get. Some of my favorite memories with my family are bringing home a new VCR tape of childhood movies to watch at home with my sister over and over again.
Even today, libraries continue to be special to me in the same way they were to my parents, and I hope to help them continue to thrive so that other children can have the same experiences and memories as I had.
Eve’s story is a testament to the lasting impact of libraries—not just as places for books, but as spaces of belonging, learning, and possibility. From providing essential resources to shaping lifelong passions, libraries have been a constant source of support for her and her family. Now, as a member of OU for EveryLibrary, Eve is dedicated to ensuring that others have the same opportunities to discover, dream, and grow through their local libraries.
Her journey reminds us why libraries matter, and why advocating for them is so important.
Follow OUforEveryLibrary on Instagram and return to the Home page to fill out the form and join the movement! EveryLibrary: Where every chapter begins with love.
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