Want to Save Libraries? Run for Office

Public libraries are under pressure. Across the country, library budgets are being slashed, books are being challenged at record rates, and the very mission of libraries is being questioned. If you love libraries, you have probably signed a petition, attended a meeting, or shared an article online. But there is a more powerful step you can take: Run for office.

The decisions that shape your local library are made not by librarians, but by elected officials. Library boards, school boards, city councils, county commissions, and state legislatures all hold the keys. And right now, many of those seats are going uncontested.

Who Actually Decides What Happens to Your Library

Most people do not realize how much power local elected officials hold over public libraries. Library trustees approve budgets, hire directors, and set policies that shape collections and programming.

School board members make the calls on school librarian positions and whether challenged books stay on shelves. City council members and county commissioners decide how much of the public budget libraries receive each year.

Research from EveryLibrary, the nation’s only political advocacy organization for libraries, reveals that over 90 percent of library funding comes from the will of local voters. That means the people in these roles directly shape whether a library grows, shrinks, or struggles to stay open.

Send an email to your Representatives to show your support for libraries!

Local Office Is More Accessible Than You Think

Running for local office is not the same as mounting a congressional campaign. Many library and school board seats require no filing fee, little to no fundraising, and only a handful of signatures to get on the ballot. Some are appointed rather than elected, meaning a simple letter of interest to your local government is all it takes.

Perhaps most striking: Research from BallotReady found that 70 percent of elected offices in the United States had no challenger in 2024. That includes library boards, school boards, and other local positions. In many cases, simply stepping forward makes you a serious candidate.

Local offices that directly affect libraries include:

• Library boards and boards of trustees
• School boards
• City councils and town councils
• County commissions and boards of supervisors
• State legislative seats

Sign the pledge to vote for libraries!

What Elected Officials Can Do for Libraries

The scope of what an elected official can do for a library is wide. Here is a look at the levers of power that matter most:

Library Budgets

Elected officials vote on funding levels. When cuts happen, it is often a matter of priorities. A single pro-library voice can shift those decisions.

Book Challenges and Intellectual Freedom

The American Library Association documented over 1,200 book challenges in a single year, one of the highest totals on record. School boards and library trustees often decide the outcome, and those votes can be close.

Staffing and Programming

Board members approve hiring plans and program funding. When services expand or disappear, it is because of those votes.

Partnerships and Community Services

Elected officials can connect libraries to workforce programs, broadband access, and social services. Strong leadership helps libraries grow their impact.

Sign the petition to fight book bans!

Everyday People Who Changed Everything

You do not need a political background to make a real difference.

Consider Shiva Rajbandhari, who ran for the Boise School Board as a high school senior. He campaigned openly against book bans and, according to American Libraries Magazine, defeated an incumbent who had been endorsed by a group pushing for book removals in local libraries. His victory shows how one person can influence what students are able to read.

In Salem, Oregon, residents organized when leaders proposed closing the public library. Community members showed up, spoke out, and pushed officials to reverse the decision. Public pressure worked because leaders were accountable to the people.

As documented by EveryLibrary, when the public shows up and speaks up, elected officials listen.

Your Next Step: Run for Office

If you are curious about what it would take to run for a local position in your community, ReadLeadRun.org is a free, nonpartisan resource from EveryLibrary designed to help library supporters become leaders. While the path to public office can seem daunting, this site provides the training and guidance you need to get your name on the ballot. Whether you are interested in library boards, school boards, or city councils, you’ll find the resources necessary to take the next step in your leadership journey.

You can also encourage someone else to run. A neighbor, a teacher, a parent, or a librarian may be the right person. Sometimes the strongest candidates just need to be asked.

Libraries cannot protect themselves; they are shaped by the people who show up, take a seat, and vote on what matters.

That seat could be yours.

Want to get more involved right now? Visit www.everylibrary.org to take the next step in advocating for libraries in your community.

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

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