Long Beach City Councilmember Megan Kerr has represented the Fifth District since she was first elected in 2022. A steadfast supporter of Long Beach Public Libraries, she has also focused on strengthening infrastructure, improving public safety, and expanding access to parks and open space. Councilmember Kerr is a lifelong Long Beach resident who was born and raised in Bixby Knolls, where she and her husband Andy raised their three children.
Her recommended book is a Pulitzer Prize-winner: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. “This book showed me a world so different than what I was familiar with, it was mesmerizing,” says the Councilmember. “I loved the theme of found family, and how those relationships are as complicated as our biological families often are. I read many different kinds of books and this one really challenged me, both the subject matter and the richness of the writing.”
Book: The Goldfinch
Author: Donna Tartt
Her favorite character in the book was Hobie, and a quote from the book that stood out to her was: “Whatever teaches us to talk to ourselves is important: whatever teaches us to sing ourselves out of despair.”
“There were parts of this book that were hard to read, but the realities of grief and addiction helped me be more empathetic, and gave me new insights into how much some people struggle,” she continues. “This is a long read and can look daunting, but I hope people take a chance to read something outside of their usual authors or genre.”
In addition to recommending this book specifically, Councilmember Kerr is a vocal proponent of reading overall. “Reading helps us learn about people and places that we may never encounter in our lives, who may be very different than us. We meet all kinds of people and it helps us learn empathy, experience hope, and a wider range of emotions. Reading makes our own world bigger.“
The Councilmember herself has been an avid reader since her youth. “Reading is the thing that has helped me all through my life,” she shares. “I spent hours reading as a young person; it was my favorite thing to do. Having access to diverse stories and writers, made me a better person. Even today, when things are stressful or I feel overwhelmed, picking up a book, or listening to an audiobook helps me to relax and often, sort out the world.”
“I think people, especially young people should read whatever they love, fiction, graphic novels, comics, magazines, the sports page, history, memoirs; whatever makes you happy and engages you in reading,” says Councilmember Kerr. “There is no right or wrong thing to read, just read, it makes us better people.”
As one of Long Beach Public Library and the Foundation's most dedicated advocates, Councilmember Kerr is a leader who we are proud to have supporting us. “Libraries, library staff, and the resources they provide in-person, and online to everyone, are revolutionary,” she gushes. “I love them.”
