Some people think of the library as a room full of books, with librarians hushing every noise above a whisper. But Lauren Cortez is telling a different story with her popular Instagram account @laurenslibrarycard. She wants everyone to know that libraries are vibrant community hubs that welcome everyone with resources to enrich their lives and save them money.
Born and raised in San Antonio, Lauren was the kind of kid who snuck books out to the playground during recess. She remembers her parents taking her to the library as a child, including San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) summer programs. She credits them for nurturing her love of books from a young age. “Reading means a lot of different things to me, in different seasons of my life. When I was a kid, it was all about imagination and comfort.” Now that she’s married to her high school sweetheart and raising a family, reading with her three kids has become a daily ritual. When they’re picking out books at the library, Lauren loves seeing their curiosity and joy. Reading her own books “helps me reset, slow down, and sometimes get out of my comfort zone.” As a pediatric speech language pathologist, Lauren often refers families to the library as a resource because she knows it will provide them with the best access to information. “Access to books is important to me because they open the door to education, to imagination, to opportunities.”
But it’s not just books that Lauren is getting from the library. She also loves to check out CDs and DVDs. Lauren has made it a habit to take her kids to pick out DVDs for the weekend, giving them that “Friday night Blockbuster feeling.” They also enjoy the games and coloring pages that are often available in the children’s areas.
Lauren told me she feels really lucky to live in San Antonio, where there are so many library branches around the city. These days, she goes to the library 3-4 times a week, and each trip is different depending on which branch they’re visiting. She heads to Parman at Stone Oak when she’s on the hunt for a recently released book because she feels like their new book display is always well-stocked. There’s also a scenic hiking trail behind Parman for people wanting more exercise after strolling through the library. Lauren’s family has a special routine when they visit Landa for its historic charm and scenery. They pack up a picnic and eat on the beautiful grounds surrounding the library. When they’re finished eating, the kids play on the playground before heading inside to pick out some books. They like to save their trips to Landa for the weekends so they can spend as much time there as possible. When they are downtown, they love to visit the Central Library. Its modern architecture and bright red color are iconic, setting it apart from other libraries. “You can get lost in the downtown branch, exploring all the different levels for hours.” Lately, she’s been heading to Westfall for a cozier, more community-centered experience. Lauren likes to take her kids there for story time and the come-and-go art activities.
Lauren recognizes that it’s the library staff who create the welcoming environment that she and her family love so much. She has observed that the librarians are very in touch with the community around the library. She especially admires the inclusiveness she sees at story time, where much of the program is presented in both English and Spanish. Lauren has seen how the children’s librarians learn people’s names and remember them when they return. She said it creates a sense of community for the kids and their caregivers when the librarians care about them and are happy to see them week after week. Lauren also finds that the other patrons are very kind to her and her kids when they’re walking around the library choosing their books. Many times, people have gone out of their way to compliment her on making the effort to bring three young children to the library. Lauren feels like people aren’t annoyed by their noise, just happy to see her and her kids there, which she finds very uplifting.
Lauren told me she hasn’t bought a book in at least 7 years, so she’s never connected with the bookstore hauls and color-coded shelves on “Bookstagram,” the nickname for book content on Instagram. For three years, Lauren posted about what she was reading on her personal account, but she never saw anyone else exclusively reading library books like her. In July 2022, she decided to get more creative with her content and try to increase engagement. That’s when she created @laurenslibrarycard, highlighting her love for the library and the benefits it brings to her life. “I want to show that you really can still be a part of this community and not feel like you have to own a single book.” Lauren shares visits to the library, story time with her kids, and funny book displays. She wants to normalize the library by showing how it’s incorporated into her real life.
Lauren realizes that some people grew up feeling like the library was outdated, too quiet, and quick to fine you for late library books. “In reality, libraries are this vibrant community resource, and they have a huge impact on children and families. As a mom and someone passionate about literacy and child development, I’ve seen how meaningful books in these community spaces can be for children’s growth and for family connections.” She also wants San Antonio families to know that SAPL no longer charges late fines and that, in her experience, the libraries are very welcoming. “It’s just one of those few places that is truly for everyone. The library provides access to information and education, technology, and resources, but they do so regardless of someone’s age, their background, or their income.”
Lauren loves horror books and gives honest reviews of everything she reads @laurenslibrarycard. A fun feature on her account is the DNF (Did Not Finish) Graveyards, where she tells her followers about the books that she chose to stop reading, including a “cause of death.” Lauren feels there are enough online spaces pressuring people to finish every book, and she wants to normalize the idea that it’s okay to stop reading something you’re not enjoying. And it’s easier to do when it’s a library book because you didn’t pay for it. She gets a lot of engagement on these posts, and she hopes people’s takeaways from the DNF Graveyards are that reading should feel enjoyable, personal, and pressure-free.
One of Lauren’s favorite things to share is the savings available to people who utilize libraries. Her monthly Wrap Up and Savings posts list the books she read and how much she saved by borrowing them from the library. She always does an end-of-year Wrap Up and Savings post, and people are always shocked to see how much she saved and that her total money spent is always $0. Lauren also appreciates that, “In a world so driven by consumerism, the library is a place where I do not feel pressure to pull out my wallet. I can leave with 10 books, I can leave empty-handed, but it's such a relaxed feeling. No one’s pressuring me to buy anything.” She hopes these posts, along with the DNF Graveyard, help her followers remember they should “Read what you want, and don’t pay for what you don’t have to.”
Access to books is so important to Lauren that her family gave her a Little Free Library for her birthday last year. Little Free Libraries is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to increase access to books through public bookcases, usually located in neighborhoods. Lauren told me that she keeps her Little Free Library stocked with book donations made by family, friends, and neighbors. Sometimes people also leave stickers and bookmarks to share, making the experience even more fun. The Little Free Library features a guest book for people to sign, and Lauren loves to see who has visited, including the FedEx delivery driver grabbing a book for her son. “It feels like a natural extension of my love for the library. It’s a small version of a bigger mission to make books accessible and part of people’s daily lives in a welcoming way. I can keep the same spirit of access and discovery going outside the library walls, right in front of my very own front door.”
While her Instagram account @laurenslibrarycard is very entertaining and unique, it serves a larger goal. Lauren Cortez uses her platform to spread the message that the library is “welcoming and relevant to modern life,” and she hopes it has reconnected people with a resource that can enrich their lives and allow them to enjoy books without spending any money. “The library is so special to me, and I value being a part of it.”
“Access to books is important to me because they open the door to education, to imagination, to opportunities.”
"In a world so driven by consumerism, the library is a place where I do not feel pressure to pull out my wallet."