Honoring Our Heroes: Jeff Lee and Ann Marie Martin

Ann Marie Martin and Jeff Lee at the Rocky Mountain Land Library's Buffalo Ranch facility 
Photo: Ellen Ingwerson

We want to honor two people who've made a tremendous difference in our reading lives and who inspired the founding of our Nature Book Guide. Jeff Lee and Ann Marie Martin assembled and curated a collection of more than 50,000 books about natural history during their careers as booksellers with Denver's Tattered Cover, and created the Rocky Mountain Land Library in 2006, a 501 c 3 organization. They put their hearts and souls into the organization by creating a special place for books and people to think, dream, explore, and wonder. 

A key part of their mission: "To help connect people and nature to the land. The need for places of quiet thought, creative pursuits, and active community involvement will only grow as our population increases. The residential library we are working to establish will give everyone access to the books and surrounding lands — a learning landscape for generations to come."

Yes, indeed. We met Ann Marie and Jeff in their urban facility, the Land Library in Denver's Globeville neighborhood, and we bonded right away over our love of books and the beauty of the sky. They encouraged us to visit the small showcase collection in Globeville whenever we wanted. A friendship developed. Jeff and Ann Marie's vision and collection introduced us to authors and publishers whose works expanded our notion of nature writing. When we first conceived the notion of the Nature Book Guide, they offered great examples and encouragement. Their generosity and flexibility of thought were invaluable. Friendship and community are necessary elements in good work, and Jeff and Ann Marie are the best at (quietly) exciting others about books and the land and building new connections. We hope to follow their example as our Nature Book Guide develops.

When we left Denver three years ago, the rest of the Rocky Mountain Land Library's books were boxed up and waiting for their Buffalo Ranch facility to be developed. Plans include renovating historic buildings to house the collection and library visitors. We knew that was a tall order, and the new leadership of the Land Library plans to focus on capacity building.

We also know there wouldn't be a Nature Book Guide or a Rocky Mountain Land Library without the vision, faith, and generosity of Jeff Lee and Ann Marie Martin. Our second anniversary is approaching on September 30. In anticipation of that date, we want to live up to Jeff and Ann Marie's example as generous friends by acknowledging others who've contributed their time and vision to the Guide. A library is more than books, more than a place. It is about people, too. And Jeff and Ann Marie are among the best. Thank you, friends. Your life's work expands to more places and people than you imagined, and we're grateful for it all.

Photo: Ellen Ingwerson