The Marathon County Public Library has been under attack for weeks after Supervisor David Baker proposed an Amendment to dismantle the library system.
In response to this threat, the Marathon County Public Library Alliance launched a petition on our Fight for the First petition platform, urging supervisors not to defund the library.
The public responded quickly and overwhelmingly in favor of the library.
We are happy to report that the requested budget passed without Supervisor David Baker's proposed amendment to reduce funding and abolish the library system.
Donations from people like you are what made this campaign possible.
The petition garnered more than 1,000 signatures across this Wisconsin county before it was forwarded to supervisors. The communication tools on the FFTF platform helped the Alliance bring supporters to public meetings and put pressure on local lawmakers to vote against the Amendment.
Baker and some other supervisors – along with a number of residents – want some books removed or reshelved in the library. But many more residents called such attempts a threat to the First Amendment. The MCPL Board of Trustees declined to remove the books or impose a rating system after review committees recommended against such measures. Baker's Amendment was seen as retaliation for not banning books in the county.
We are proud to support the Marathon County Public Library Alliance and dozens of other campaigns on Fightforthefirst.org with pro-bono consulting, up to one thousand dollars in digital ads, fundraising and other digital tools, and more.
If you're facing book bans or threats to your local library, we are here to help you fight back!
If you'd like us to be able to continue to fight against book bans across the country, please consider making a donation today.