Donor spotlight: Keenan brock
The children’s area in the renovated library will be double the size of the current space, thanks in part to a donation by the Brock family.
Though Keenan Brock’s sons are now 17 and 21, the family chose to direct their generous donation to the children’s space. “The children’s area holds the most meaning for us,” Keenan said. “It is the heart of the library. It’s where it all begins.”
Keenan recalled having difficulty with reading as a child and young adult. When he became a father, he made reading to his children a priority. “It was a non-negotiable part of bedtime, like brushing your teeth,” he said. Keenan believed that continual exposure and practice would help his sons become strong readers. “It’s wonderful to have a kid in your lap and read together,” Keenan said, noting that the daily ritual also “allowed me to develop a connection with my kids.”
Keenan Brock in the current Children’s Area
Keenan found that the daily habit of reading with his children strengthened his own reading skills. He now reads up to 100 books a year, and has been known to polish off an entire novel on a rainy Saturday.
“The children’s area is the heart of the library. It’s where it all begins.”
The J.V. Fletcher Library has been a source of many of the family’s books over the years. Keenan recalled having conversations with librarians that resulted in “six months worth of ideas” for titles to read. When the family did buy books off of Amazon, they would often purchase the hardcover library edition, and donate it to the Library when they had outgrown it.
These days, Keenan and his family often make use of Overdrive and Libby to borrow electronic books and audiobooks. He plans to give Hoopla a try as well.
Keenan’s oldest son, Reid, 21, is a Junior at Boston University studying Business. When the family heard about the fundraising campaign to support the library renovation, Reid was a big part of the discussion about how much to give and what area to sponsor. “When he saw the children’s area on the list, he was sold,” Keenan said. “He asked me, ‘Does it bring joy?’” Keenan and Reid both answered Yes, and they are excited about their decision!
The Brocks have lived in Westford since 2005. Keenan is a computer programmer at IBM. His wife, Valerie, is a microbiologist who works for the Water Department in Pepperell. His son Toby, 17, is a senior at Westford Academy. When he’s not reading, Keenan also enjoys snowboarding.
“It’s been a number of years since I’ve visited the children’s section,” Keenan said, “but that is where my kids and I first established a joy for imagination as well as a dialog for tackling difficult subjects.” He hopes to pass that experience on to future generations.
The Foundation thanks the Brock family for their support!