Our Story
Humanitarian Librarian: A Girl Scout's Vision in Action
One evening around the kitchen table, 15-year-old Isabel Beran and her parents brainstormed ideas for a meaningful Girl Scout project to benefit their community. As avid readers, they had a collective 'lightbulb moment': creating and installing a library for their local elementary school. This project not only earned Isabel a Silver Award but became the catalyst for something much bigger.
Throughout the project, Isabel and her father, John, realized the severity of California's reading crisis. They envisioned a fresh approach to inspire young readers through creative, engaging methods, including offering brand-new books. Fueled by their determination to help change the story of childhood literacy, they got to work. Isabel and John refined the original Girl Scout project idea, developing test kits and prototypes that evolved into today's display model. Inspired by the Girl Scout motto "Leave a place better than you found it," they founded Humanitarian Librarian.
This non-profit now creates and installs book displays in California's public school libraries, bringing diverse, new books to countless students. Humanitarian Librarian stands as a testament to youth-led change, family collaboration, and the power of reading to transform young lives.
Co-Founder: Isabel Beran
Isabel Beran, a 10th grader, co-founded Humanitarian Librarian. A Girl Scout since age 8, she's passionate about literacy and community service. Isabel enjoys golf, volunteers with Access Books and Saint Mark Food Pantry, and adores pets. Her love for reading drives her mission to improve California's public school libraries.
Isabel is currently reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
Co-FoundeR: John Beran
John Beran lives and works in Los Angeles. He is a key grip who has worked in the movie industry for thirty-five years. He's a husband and proud father of two daughters: Carolina, 35, and Isabel, 15 (who is the co-founder of Humanitarian Librarian). A lifelong lover of books and the son of two educators, John is motivated to fight against the dual crisis of illiteracy and persistent underfunding of public school libraries in California. John is currently reading The Friend by Sigrid Nunez.
Our Team
ROBIN PAGE
Volunteer Opportunities
Dana Marterella
Robin Page is an author whose debut novel, Small Silent Things, was published by Harper Perennial. She lives and writes in Los Angeles, where she is the mother of two daughters. Formerly a lecturer in the English Department at UC Irvine, Robin lends her expertise to Humanitarian Librarian by contributing to the creation and curation of
Robin Page is an author whose debut novel, Small Silent Things, was published by Harper Perennial. She lives and writes in Los Angeles, where she is the mother of two daughters. Formerly a lecturer in the English Department at UC Irvine, Robin lends her expertise to Humanitarian Librarian by contributing to the creation and curation of Library Displays, as well as outreach to participating public schools.
Dana Marterella
Volunteer Opportunities
Dana Marterella
We are so lucky to have Dana Marterella on our team. Dana is a professor of English and Humanities at Glendale College. She is finishing her doctorate degree at UCLA's Culture and Performance Studies program. Her contributions are not limited to her knowledge of literature and insights as an educator. Having earned her M.F.A. at CalArt
We are so lucky to have Dana Marterella on our team. Dana is a professor of English and Humanities at Glendale College. She is finishing her doctorate degree at UCLA's Culture and Performance Studies program. Her contributions are not limited to her knowledge of literature and insights as an educator. Having earned her M.F.A. at CalArts and serving as the art gallery director at Glendale College, Dana is invaluable in the art direction of the physical displays we donate to public school libraries in California.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. We offer a variety of opportunities for individuals and groups to get involved and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.