Across the country, libraries face unprecedented political pressure, financial threats, coordinated book-ban campaigns, staffing cuts, and ballot measures that determine whether communities gain (or lose) essential library services. When a library’s future is on the line, EveryLibrary is the organization that shows up.
As the first and only national organization dedicated exclusively to building voter support for libraries of every kind, EveryLibrary is chartered “to promote public, school, and college libraries” and charged with advancing stable, sustainable public funding.
EveryLibrary is the only national political advocacy organization for libraries and the only one fighting in the same arena where library funding is won or lost: at the ballot box.
No other organization in the United States works at the intersection of libraries, democracy, and elections the way we do.
In fact, our work is so successful that we are able to help libraries secure over $1,600 in stable funding for every $1 we raise.
Defending Libraries on the Ballot — When and Where It Matters Most
Over 90% of library funding comes from the will of local voters, which is why EveryLibrary provides pro-bono professional campaign support to library leaders and local Vote Yes committees facing ballot measures. Whether it’s a millage renewal, a building bond, or a levy that will determine hours, staffing, collections, and programs, the stakes are enormous with tens of millions of dollars in a single election cycle.
To date, EveryLibrary has helped libraries secure over 3.2 billion dollars in stable funding through this work.
Our support is hands-on and proven effective:
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Training library staff, trustees, and volunteers to run legally compliant and effective Information-Only campaigns.
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Building and advising Vote Yes committees on strategy, messaging, and Get-Out-The-Vote operations.
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Speaking directly to voters about the relevance, value, and impact of libraries in their everyday lives.
No other library advocacy organization in the country is structured to activate voters on Election Day with this level of political strategy, data-driven tactics, and real-world campaign expertise. We win where funding is decided: at the polls.
Standing Up for School Librarians Online and On the Ground
School libraries are in crisis nationwide. Cuts to school library positions, stagnant or shrinking budgets, and political fights over books are leaving students without the literacy and research support they need to thrive. We have worked with over 150 school libraries across the country, helping them rally the public to keep their doors open to students who deserve access to school libraries.
EveryLibrary’s SaveSchoolLibrarians.org initiative delivers two critical forms of support:
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Local, rapid-response grassroots activism to defend school library budgets and protect certified school librarians’ jobs.
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State and federal policy leadership that builds long-term protections, funding mechanisms, and legislative wins for school libraries.
We mobilize parents, educators, and community members where local decisions are made while simultaneously pushing for systemic change at higher levels of government. When a school librarian is targeted, when a school library is threatened, or when a district plans cuts, EveryLibrary steps in with organizing power, political expertise, and national visibility.
Empowering Americans to Fight for Their Libraries
Over 140 communities have fought against book bans through our unique and innovative FightForTheFirst.org platform, where local advocates can launch their own campaigns backed by EveryLibrary’s full suite of tools, expertise, and resources. These communities have rallied over 110,000 Americans to their aid.
Organizers receive:
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Pro-bono consulting on strategy and messaging
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Access to digital mobilization tools
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Training on political organizing
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Seed funding and national amplification
This platform helps ordinary Americans become effective advocates in their own communities by turning concern into action, and action into victories for library funding, First Amendment protections, and access to information.
Rapid-Response Action When Libraries Are Under Attack
EveryLibrary maintains one of the most effective digital action platforms in the library world. When a library is in crisis, whether threatened by political attacks, budget cuts, book bans, or hostile legislation, we can immediately deploy:
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Petitions that reach voters and elected officials
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Advocacy alerts to mobilize our national network
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Paid and earned media to increase public pressure
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Targeted advertising to reach key local audiences
This combination of grassroots mobilization and strategic paid media is unmatched in library advocacy. We have helped over 100 communities defend their local libraries against attacks and secured millions of dollars in funding for them. It’s how we turn small local fights into national movements and how we win. You can support our rapid response fund here.
Changing Public Perception Through National Storytelling
Libraries are engines of literacy, workforce development, small-business support, entrepreneurship, cultural enrichment, civic engagement, and social connection. However, too few Americans are aware of the full scope of what libraries offer.
EveryLibrary’s digital publications and media campaigns tell powerful, human-centered stories about librarians and the communities they serve. Through consistent, high-quality storytelling, we shift public perception, foster support, and cultivate a culture that values and advocates for libraries. Through our network, we reach more than one million Americans every single week and show them the value of our American library system.
Building Political Literacy for the Library Community
Through the EveryLibrary Institute, our leadership team trains thousands of library supporters, administrators, trustees, and advocates every year. Our workshops, webinars, and presentations are grounded in:
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Real voter data
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Public perception research
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Lessons from successful ballot campaigns
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Proven political strategy and advocacy best practices
We provide actionable insights that help library leaders build political power, strengthen community trust, and prepare for the challenges ahead. The goal is simple: equip every library advocate with the skills they need to win.
Your Support Makes All of This Possible
EveryLibrary’s work is funded entirely by donors and not by libraries or taxpayer dollars. That means every contribution goes directly toward:
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Winning library ballot measures
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Defending school librarians
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Fighting censorship
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Protecting access to information
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Supporting local campaigns with pro-bono expertise
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Mobilizing voters
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Shaping public opinion
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Building a nationwide movement for library funding and First Amendment freedom
If you believe libraries matter…
If you believe every child deserves a school librarian…
If you believe communities deserve access to information and a trusted public space free from political interference…
Then EveryLibrary is the organization fighting for what you believe in.
Libraries can’t fight these battles alone. But with you and with EveryLibrary, they don’t have to.