Public Libraries Are Critical Cornerstones of Democracy

Democracy has come under attack in recent years. The rise of misinformation and AI-generated content online has sown distrust in subject experts, public institutions, and even basic facts. Increasing censorship and the erosion of civil liberties have led many to feel that the freedoms promised by democracy are being dismantled, one by one. In these uncertain times, libraries are doing their part to protect it.

Some of the most important factors in a strong democracy are citizens who are well informed on important matters and who recognize and respect the rights of others. The free access to information that libraries offer grants people from all walks of life the opportunity to educate themselves on a wide variety of issues. Libraries are also valuable spaces for people to gather and interact, allowing them to get to know their neighbors and build a diverse community.

Some libraries go beyond these basic measures. Libraries that are members of the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) have been working hard to protect democracy through a number of unique initiatives. Some initiatives span multiple libraries, while others are tailored to local communities—but every bit of support helps.

Here are five of the projects ULC libraries have been implementing to support democracy.

Sign the petition to fight book bans!

1. Book Sanctuaries and Books Unbanned

Book bans have surged in recent years, driven by a small but vocal group challenging a number of titles available in libraries. In response, many public libraries have declared themselves “Book Sanctuaries.” These sanctuaries collect and protect endangered books as part of broader initiatives, making them more accessible to their communities. Some sanctuary libraries also host book talks and events related to banned titles and educate others on the history of book banning and burning. 

The Books Unbanned initiative further defends the freedom to read by providing free access to banned and challenged books, with some libraries offering access to any teen or young adult across the United States, regardless of location.

2. The Hand-Me-Down Project

The Milton Public Library in Ontario launched the Hand-Me-Down Project to help connect senior citizens and teens in their community. The goal of the project is to impart important knowledge to the next generation by having seniors share their expertise in certain trade skills, crafts, and cooking with teens and young adults.

Not only does the project support skills-building, but it also encourages intergenerational dialogue and cultural exchange. The Hand-Me-Down Project helps reduce the social isolation commonly experienced by older adults, while also helping to build a community where people of all ages can learn, share, and grow together.

Take action today to support libraries!

3. Civic Literacy Programming and Online Civic Center

The Toledo Lucas County Public Library in Ohio has long supported civic engagement through voter registration drives and community sessions on how to run for office. It also created an online civic center on its website that hosts a variety of resources. Visitors can use the civic center to register to vote, review their ballot, find information about elected officials, and more. The platform includes a tool to help anyone hoping to run for office learn what positions are available and how to get started.

4. The Mary Ann Key Book Club

The Hennepin County Library in Minnesota started the Mary Ann Key Book Club as a way to encourage intercultural conversations about both past and current injustices that impact Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The anti-racist book club was created after the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed as a way to educate people about the history of racist practices in the United States and to help teach ways to support positive change.

Each season, a new book is selected that will help catalyze conversations on systemic racism, discrimination, and other forms of bias that affect marginalized communities.

Sign the pledge to vote for libraries!

5. Civic Engagement Committee

The Johnson County Library in Kansas has a civic engagement committee that plans programs and creates content for its website. The committee has created numerous bridge-building initiatives that foster civil discourse on important issues, including a program on gun control that was attended by more than 150 people. Panelists discussed both sides of the issue, then allowed for conversation.

The library also partners with its local chapter of the League of Women Voters to hold Legislative Coffees, where Kansas state senators and representatives speak about the work they do in their communities, discuss notable events or issues, and take questions from the audience. The library also hosts Gather at the Table, a program where people can share a meal and have a safe space to discuss difficult or controversial topics with people of diverse ages and backgrounds.

These are just a few of the ways that libraries help support democracy. There are many other options, both large and small. For instance, many libraries serve as polling places and ballot drop-off locations during elections, which gives voters a safe, reliable place to vote. Others offer important voting information, and some even hold forums for local candidates.

The ULC maintains a list of library initiatives from across the country that foster support for democracy through educational programs, cultural outreach, and much more. You can explore this list to learn about the initiatives near you, or you can read it to get inspired to encourage your own local library to get involved.

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

#librarymarketers: Enjoy this story? Want to use it for your library newsletter, blog, or social media? This article is published under Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International and is free to edit and use with attribution. Please cite EveryLibrary on medium.com/everylibrary.

This work by EveryLibrary is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0