Hafa adai! With over 32 years of professional public librarian experience, Erlinda Cabrera Naputi is the President of the Pacific Islands Association for Libraries, Archives, and Museums and the Library Director/NMI State Librarian of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library-CNMI State Library under the Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Erlinda is passionate about the important role of public libraries, museums, and archives in developing vibrant and engaged communities, and she is actively engaged in numerous local and national boards and advisory groups. Erlinda’s commitment to public service is a testament to her goal of enhancing the quality of life in our diverse community by providing opportunities for lifelong learners and creating spaces and opportunities to connect and engage people of all ages. As an indigenous Chamorro born and raised in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, she loves spending family time with her husband Martin, her four adult children Jay, Marlyn, Maelyn, Jose, and her grandchildren Ava Lyn, Ezekiel, Miklo, Isaiah Jr., and Leia.  In her spare time, she loves playing golf and softball.  She also enjoys growing root crops and vegetables at her family farm and teaching her grandchildren our Chamorro indigenous language and culture.

In Chamorro, we have a word called “Inafa’maolek” which means “maintaining a harmonious relationship with one another– i tano (the land), i tasi (the ocean), and i gåga siha(the animals), and working together to make things right.”  Through this value of mutual reciprocity rather than individualism, we — the CNMI State Library continue to respond as global citizens to user demands that very much reflect our public library programming and services.  We understand that we have an added layer of responsibility with significant challenges to embrace our global way of being and build a sustainable values-based community.  By practicing the Chamorro value of “inafa’ maolek,” we maintain and sustain order and a harmonious relationship with our community partners, stakeholders and the global community at large.