Nichole Beer is a woman who wears lots of hats. She is a dedicated school librarian. She teaches a Collection Development course for teachers seeking a library endorsement from UNLV. She is one of the founders and the executive director of Read Freely Nevada. The grassroots anti-censorship organization exists to ensure there are no book bans in Nevada and to create opportunities for children to have culturally diverse literature. Nichole was featured in the award-winning documentary "Banned Together." We've seen the rise of book bans and calls for censorship infiltrate schools and communities across the country in 2025, and Las Vegas has not been immune. Nichole's advocacy helps ensure that our students will continue to have access to a world of ideas.
When she's not working as a librarian, Nichole is also an avid lover of food tourism and cookbooks. She owns Lentils in the Pot, a pop-up cookbook business. In addition, she serves as the head of curation and is the assistant library director of Nice Nice Bite, the only cookbook library system in the world, headquartered in Henderson, with three branches in the valley. In her free time, Nichole enjoys traveling and visiting new restaurants with her family.
Q&A WITH NICHOLE BEER
If you could order one meal from any Las Vegas restaurant as your last meal on Earth, what would it be and why?
Palate in the Downtown Arts District. I would order the shrimp toast and the pork belly breakfast. My favorite cocktail there is The Rose. To finish, I would order Happier, because who doesn’t like a cocoa marshmallow drink and a make your own s’mores with a real fire? While I’m there eating my feast, listening to live music, and enjoying the art, I will check out a holiday cocktail recipe book from Nice Nice Bite, the flagship branch of the only cookbook lending library system in the world.
What’s a local issue you wish more people paid attention to and why?
Book banning and censorship in our schools and the white Christian nationalist movement that has taken over our school board and leadership.
If you were the ruler of Las Vegas for a day, what would be the first improvement you would make for locals?
I would make Las Vegas a sanctuary city and make sure ICE is not able to enter Las Vegas.
Where in Las Vegas do you go when you need to recharge?
I love hanging out at Dig It in the Downtown Arts District. Dig It is a great coffee and light meal spot with a great mission. They employ adults with ALL abilities. I always feel better after a visit.
Why do you continue to live in Las Vegas?
I want to make sure the students in our valley continue to have diverse and inclusive school libraries and curriculum. I stand between those who are trying to censor our libraries, schools, and curriculum, and I am not going anywhere.
