Be Kind to Your Mind: Honoring Ammon Young
Director, Bloomsburg Public Library | Nominated by Melissa Matthews
Being kind to your mind isn’t just about personal wellness.
It’s about building environments where minds can grow, gather, heal, and feel safe.
For our Be Kind to Your Mind theme, we are proud to recognize Ammon Young, Director of the Bloomsburg Public Library and former Director of the Columbia County Traveling Library.
Ammon was nominated by Melissa Matthews, who has volunteered alongside him for over 12 years and serves on the Friends Boards of both libraries.
Creating Safe Spaces for Every Mind
Melissa first observed Ammon’s leadership before he even stepped into his first directorship. What stood out was his compassion, respect for staff and volunteers, and desire to strengthen community partnerships.
Under his leadership, the Bloomsburg Public Library has become more than a place for books — it has become a true community hub.
Teens are gathering in record numbers.
Adults engage in Tai Chi and Civil Conversations.
Support groups for grief and tech literacy provide guidance and connection.
Bridge, chess, arts and crafts, mahjong, and book clubs bring people together across generations.
Perhaps most meaningfully, Ammon has intentionally created programming for adults living with dementia — offering stimulation, connection, and dignity for individuals and families navigating complex seasons of life.
Showing Up When It Matters
Kindness to the mind also means ensuring no one feels forgotten.
On cold winter nights, Ammon has checked in with vulnerable community members to ensure they knew where they could find warmth and safety. The library has remained open during brutally cold days so patrons could access heat, internet, books, newspapers — and human connection.
He knows the names of almost every patron.
He ensures resources are accessible.
He understands that a kind word, a listening ear, or simply keeping the lights on can make a meaningful difference.
As Melissa shared:
“With Ammon, kindness is contagious.”
And as one quote in his nomination reminds us:
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear… all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” —Leo Buscaglia
Ammon’s work proves that when you invest in minds — young and old — you strengthen an entire community.
For embodying what Be Kind to Your Mind truly means, we are honored to recognize Ammon Young as a 2026 Kindness Award winner.
