Today is Take Action for Libraries Day, an annual day of action during National Library Week.
From Congress to local library boards, our elected officials need to hear from library supporters at all levels of government—especially during election cycles. This year, library advocates like you are telling Congress to protect the freedom to read and stand against censorship.
Threats to the right to read have increased dramatically in recent years, and Congress must stand against any attempts to restrict intellectual freedom. The number of titles targeted for censorship surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching the highest levels ever documented by the American Library Association (ALA).
On this annual day of action, advocates across the U.S. are joining together to affirm their participation in the 2024 elections. Libraries are nonpartisan, but they are not indifferent. The nation’s libraries play a critical role in our democracy, encouraging readers, educating voters and preparing all of us to participate in elections.
To launch ALA's new Reader, Voter, Ready campaign, we're asking library advocates to pledge to get informed, get registered, and get ready to vote!
Voting is one of the greatest privileges and responsibilities of citizenship in the U.S. Yet, turnout in national elections is consistently lower than two-thirds of eligible voters. Participation rates among multiple demographic groups and in state or local elections are often lower still. There is frequent talk about the critical role of libraries in our democracy. What does that look like in practice? Libraries are nonpartisan, but they are not indifferent. As institutions that provide access to information, resources, programs, and public spaces for all members of a community, libraries are a cornerstone for civic engagement and more important than ever.
Use the action form here to sign the Reader, Voter, Ready pledge and commit to voting this year. You can also find invaluable voter-engagement guides and other resources to get informed—and inform others—this election year.
Bring Congress to your library
Invite your members of Congress to a virtual or in-person tour of your library! Showcasing the successes and needs of your library to your elected officials is a great way to establish relationships with elected leaders. Check out the in-person tour checklist, and learn more about how to successfully welcome Congress into your library with our dedicated tour resource page which includes recorded sample tours.
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