News and Updates

We are thrilled to share that all three libraries that EveryLibrary supported on the March 17^th ballot in Illinois passed their referendum.

It is Election Day in Illinois. EveryLibrary’s mission is to “build voter support for libraries”. We do that in different ways depending on the campaign. On Election Days, it’s with individual libraries on the ballot. It’s very local and it’s always in support of new or renewed funding for the library.

Libraries are closing their physical spaces to the public in order to increase social distancing and we applaud those libraries that have closed. That doesn’t necessarily mean that libraries won’t continue to serve the public in some manner while their doors are closed. There are many digital and online library resources that are available to the public online and we created this content to help highlight how libraries can continue to serve the public even while closed.

EveryLibrary, the national political action committee for libraries, today announces the appointment of five new members of our Board of Directors to guide our organization in our mission to build voter support for libraries. We are thrilled to welcome Jeannie Allen, Director of Strategic Planning and Digital Strategy at Kitsap Regional Library, Lori Bowen Ayre, Founder and Principal Consultant of The Galecia Group, Roberto C. Delgadillo, Student Services Librarian at UC-Davis Shields Library, Gary Kirk, President of Tech Logic, and Kathleen McEvoy, Vice President of Communications at EBSCO Information Services, to the board. 

Dealing with COVID-19, the disease caused by the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) raises many questions for librarians. Since being designated as essential disaster services, libraries have focused on the roles that we can serve during emergencies. Most of the attention, has gone to natural, weather, and human disasters as opposed to widespread disease outbreaks but the National Library of Medicine has a great Coronavirus resource page available to librarians as well.

The biggest role libraries can play in a national response to the emerging COVID-19 threat is as information specialists.

We are thrilled to introduce our interns for Spring 2020.

Every so often, we have the opportunity to work with bright young students from Chinese universities. We strive to create a professional and enriching environment for every student that works with us. 

Recently, we had the opportunity to work with Lufei Tang, a student from Xi'an Jiaotong University.

Below you can read about her time in America.

We're excited to let you know about some of our upcoming events at the Public Library Association and the Computers in Libraries Conferences.

I’m sure you’ve seen all the terrible library and literacy bills that come out every year at the state level. This year is no different. We’ve seen bills targeting LGBT materials in libraries, threatening to imprison librarians, and baselessly attacking the databases that are provided in school and public libraries.

Once again, the president’s budget proposes permanent elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

To fight this, we need your help! We want the president and Congress to hear directly from librarians and library supporters about the value IMLS funding provides libraries and the communities they serve.