Bret Mahoney - Next door neighbors with the Library

Bret Mahoney stays close to his hometown library. As a trustee, he lives just a block from the Beaumont Library and can walk to board meetings.

“For a community, the library is the center of activity, knowledge and growth,” he says.

For Mahoney, serving the Library is a family affair. His wife Diana was appointed to the board of the Friends of the Library. Mahoney is Secretary of the Library Board and his term expires in 2028.

Right down the street

When he walks down California Avenue and checks out a book, Mahoney is reminded of a simple truth:

“A library is not a product that someone can sell you; you’re getting access to the world and a window to opportunity,” Mahoney says. “A library is a need.” 

Mahoney is finishing his master’s degree in organizational leadership while working at Loma Linda University Health. Mahoney, 33, grew up in a family where his school teacher mom helped him read at high school level by the fourth grade. On cross-country road trips, he whiled away the time by reading library books.

When it comes to his hometown library, Mahoney hopes to see public support for tripling the size of the Library, expanding its collection by 150,000 items, adding more computer stations and new community meeting rooms. 

“As citizens, it’s our responsibility to contribute to society and improve people’s lives just like the Library has for so many decades.”