It’s National Library Week! Now more than ever, it’s important to uplift libraries, library workers, and those that support libraries with the goal of making their community more inclusive and accessible.
So how can you help your local library and all that they do to serve your community?
#1 – Stay Informed
The American Library Association released their latest State of America’s Libraries report for 2024. Via this report, you can stay up-to-date on all the challenges that libraries face and much more, including:
- How libraries remain essential to communities;
- The top 10 most challenged books of 2024 & censorship statistics;
- Ways in which libraries around the country are welcoming all patrons via critical community initiatives;
- How libraries are staying ahead of the curve and learning how to leverage generative AI;
- And ALA’s civic participation advocacy work via their 2024 “Reader. Voter. Ready.” campaign.
#2 – Show Local Library Workers You Care
Tuesday, April 8th is National Library Workers Day, a great time to thank library employees for their contributions.
Download this printable postcard template, or send an electronic postcard, showing some love to library workers for all they do to uplift libraries and the amazing services that they provide.
#3 – Make Your Voice Heard
Thursday, April 10th is Take Action for Libraries Day.
The American Library Association makes it easy to call Congress and express how important it is to preserve federal funding to libraries. They’ve even provided the following script to follow when you call:
Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a constituent from [YOUR CITY AND STATE] and I’m calling to urge [ SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE NAME ] to support libraries and protect the Institute of Museum and Library Services from being dismantled.
On March 14, President Trump issued an executive order to eliminate I-M-L-S. If this order is allowed to stand, it will hurt millions of Americans who rely on our libraries.
Library funding uses a tiny percentage of the annual federal budget, and yet I-M-L-S makes a real difference for Americans every day. Libraries provide classes for jobseekers, services for people with disabilities, library delivery for older Americans, and so much more. The president’s executive order puts these services at risk.
I urge you to overturn the executive order and continue funding for I-M-L-S in the next fiscal year.
Visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov to find out who your local reps and senators are, then click here to call your state’s decision makers!
#4 – Support Libraries in the Fight Against Book Bans
Book challenges and bans are an ongoing issue across the United States. According to newly released data from the American Library Association, “72% of book challenges in 2024 were initiated by organized pressure groups and the elected officials, board members, and administrators who were influenced by them.”
“The movement to ban books is not a movement of parents, but a movement of partisans who seek to limit our freedom to read and make different choices about things that matter,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. “All who care about libraries and personal liberty must stand together and join the movement to halt this assault on the freedom to read.”
So how can you help in the fight against book bans? One of the easiest ways to do this is by just checking out a banned book! If you want to get creative, maybe start a banned book club at your library, or donate banned books to your local Little Free Library.
For those who are looking to present evidence regarding the importance of these books, check out Unite Against Book Bans’ Book Résumés. These résumés “detail each title’s significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, book review committees, elected officials, and board members.”
