Donations spotlight: Love books? Back EveryLibrary in its fight to defend and sustain public libraries

Note from the CREDO Mobile team: This September, EveryLibrary is among three amazing groups that will receive a share of our monthly grant. Funding from the CREDO community will support EveryLibrary as it helps public, school and college libraries win funding at the ballot box and defends libraries against book banning, illicit political interference and threats of closure.

 Read this important blog post about EveryLibrary, then visit CREDODonations.com and cast your vote to help send much-needed grant money to the group to assist its effort—and the efforts of our other outstanding September grantees.

Public libraries are at the heart of our communities. Yet, across the nation, they are increasingly under attack, facing threats to their funding and challenges to the very principles of intellectual freedom they uphold. As the only national 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to libraries, EveryLibrary stands on the frontline of this battle, providing crucial support to libraries in their most critical moments. Our mission is simple but powerful: to help libraries win funding and fight censorship.

Securing vital funding for libraries

In communities large and small, library funding regularly hangs in the balance, dependent on the outcome of local ballot initiatives. EveryLibrary plays a pivotal role in these initiatives, offering pro-bono consulting, strategic advice and direct financial support to ensure that libraries have the resources they need to continue serving their communities.

A recent example is the Alpena County Library in Michigan. Faced with a strident campaign to defund it, the library had an uncertain future. Supporters contacted EveryLibrary just six weeks before a critical election that would determine whether the library could keep its doors open. We quickly mobilized to amplify the library’s informational campaign, helping supporters communicate the importance of new funding to voters. Thanks to these efforts, funding was renewed, securing the library’s future and ensuring that the right to read remains protected in Alpena County.

Every dollar we raise for local library ballot initiatives has a massive impact. On average, every $1 helps secure over $1,600 in stable library funding. This means that even a small contribution from an individual donor can have a profound effect on the future of libraries across the country.

Helping libraries help everyone vote

Libraries are essential to increasing civic engagement and sustaining democracy. Our VoteLibraries initiative is designed to assist libraries in their mission to ensure that all citizens who want to vote are registered, informed and empowered to access the ballot.

VoteLibraries equips libraries in communities and on campuses with the skills, tools and resources they need to host robust nonpartisan voter-information and election-support programs in 2024 and beyond. Drawing on our extensive experience with library ballot campaigns and initiatives like Libraries2024, as well as partnerships with other national organizations and our leadership role in projects like National Voter Registration Day, we are eager to support libraries as they create new pathways to civic engagement.

Fighting for the right to read

EveryLibrary is also deeply committed to fighting censorship and defending intellectual freedom. In recent years, we’ve seen an alarming rise in attempts to ban books, particularly books that reflect the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. Our work in this area is vital to ensuring that libraries can continue to provide access to diverse ideas and stories.

Through our platforms like Fight for the First, we’ve helped over 100 communities launch campaigns against book bans, empowering local advocates with the tools and resources they need to stand up for their libraries. Our partnership with researchers like Dr. Tasslyn Magnusson has also been instrumental in tracking and countering the growing networks behind these censorship efforts, revealing that over 4,000 books were targeted for banning in 2023 alone.

A unique and impactful organization

EveryLibrary’s status as a 501(c)(4) organization enables us to engage in the political advocacy that is often necessary to protect libraries. We’ve supported over 130 library campaigns across the country, helping to secure nearly $3 billion in funding for libraries. Our work is not just about winning elections, it’s about ensuring that libraries can continue to serve their communities, providing access to information, education and culture for all.

As the only national organization of our kind, EveryLibrary occupies a unique and powerful position in the fight for libraries. But we can’t do it alone. Together, we can ensure that every library remains a vibrant, essential part of its community.

Learn more at EveryLibrary.org.