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Candidate Petra Beyami says libraries are 'the greatest equalizers of democracy' in Brookline trustee bid
Summary
Petra Beyami, a town meeting member and former investment consultant, told Brookline Interactive Group Television she is running for library trustee to support the new director, expand community partnerships and secure a stable budget to retain staff and services ahead of the May 5 election.
Petra Beyami, a candidate for Brookline library trustee, told viewers she is running because public libraries are essential civic infrastructure that "give every person regardless of income, background, status free access to knowledge," and because she wants to help ensure library leadership and staff thrive.
Beyami, who said she grew up in Richmond, Virginia, studied political science at George Washington University and later earned an MBA while working at Cambridge Associates, described a 14‑year career in investment consulting and a later role in talent and operations management. She said she stepped back from extensive travel after having children and has served as a Brookline precinct 12 town meeting member since 2021.
Her campaign priorities focus on three areas: first, helping the library's new director (referred to in the interview as Jill) succeed and restoring staff morale; second, strengthening community engagement through partnerships with groups such as the Brookline Community Foundation and local teen services; and third, ensuring a stable budget that allows the library to retain employees and maintain services.
"Libraries are the greatest equalizers of democracy," Beyami said, arguing they "preserve our collective memory" and provide welcoming, judgment‑free spaces that enable civic participation. She told the program she reviewed the trustee handbook and believes her experience with policy oversight, finance, talent management, strategic planning and advocacy would be useful to the 12‑member board.
Beyami urged residents to use library programs and to tell trustees what services they want more of, saying libraries today are hubs for learning, public health connections and community programs. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5; the host noted the episode is part of a series of candidate interviews ahead of that vote.
(Reporting based on a candidate interview broadcast on Brookline Interactive Group Television.)
