Want to Save Libraries? Run for Office

Public libraries are under pressure. Across the country, library budgets are being slashed, books are being challenged at record rates, and the very mission of libraries is being questioned. If you love libraries, you have probably signed a petition, attended a meeting, or shared an article online. But there is a more powerful step you can take: Run for office.

The decisions that shape your local library are made not by librarians, but by elected officials. Library boards, school boards, city councils, county commissions, and state legislatures all hold the keys. And right now, many of those seats are going uncontested.

Who Actually Decides What Happens to Your Library

Most people do not realize how much power local elected officials hold over public libraries. Library trustees approve budgets, hire directors, and set policies that shape collections and programming.

School board members make the calls on school librarian positions and whether challenged books stay on shelves. City council members and county commissioners decide how much of the public budget libraries receive each year.

Research from EveryLibrary, the nation’s only political advocacy organization for libraries, reveals that over 90 percent of library funding comes from the will of local voters. That means the people in these roles directly shape whether a library grows, shrinks, or struggles to stay open.

Your Next Step: Run for Office

You already believe in libraries. Now it’s time to lead.

When readers and library supporters like you step into leadership roles, they bring the values of access, curiosity, and service to the heart of government, helping shape the future of their communities.

That's why people like you need to run for office today!

If you are curious about what it takes to run for a local office in your community, we created ReadLeadRun.org as a free, nonpartisan resource to help you run for office.

You can also encourage someone else to run. A neighbor, a teacher, a parent, or a librarian may be the right person. Sometimes the strongest candidates just need to be asked.

Libraries cannot protect themselves; they are shaped by the people who show up, take a seat, and vote on what matters.