Feel Good Friday - EveryLibrary

September is Library Card Sign Up Month! The first way you can celebrate is by signing up for a library card. The second way is by learning more about today’s Feel Good Friday organization, EveryLibrary.

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Riverside, Illinois, EveryLibrary is a “staunchly non-partisan and fiercely pro-library organization” whose mission is “to build voter support for libraries of all kinds.” 

They are the first and only organization in the United States chartered “to promote public, school, and college libraries, including by advocating in support of public funding for libraries and building public awareness of public funding initiatives”. 

Their primary work is supporting local public libraries when they have a referendum or measure on the ballot. This support is provided pro-bono and includes training library staff, trustees, and volunteers to plan and run effective Information Only campaigns; assisting local committees on planning and executing Get Out the Vote work for their library’s measure; and speaking directly to the public about the value and relevance of libraries and librarians.

Other work done by EveryLibrary includes activating parents to fight for school library funding and school librarians' jobs; building a national network of Americans who will conduct direct actions for libraries such as signing petitions and contacting their elected officials; and using webinars, seminars and workshops to train librarians on political literacy and share actionable insights.

A look at the EveryLibrary 2023 Annual Report shows the impact of their work. They powered pro-library campaigns in 15 states, coordinating 172 direct actions like email campaigns and rallies, and they saved 7 libraries from closing. They also crafted and presented 85 in-person training events for librarians and library boards to help them anticipate and respond to a challenging library landscape.

If you’d like to help EveryLibrary build support for libraries and help grassroots groups fight book bans there are many ways you can get involved. Attend some of their online events during banned books week. Starting September 22nd, EveryLibrary will be hosting 25 panels with 45+ authors, publishing professionals, and experts on book bans and the First Amendment. You can also make a donation and amplify their message on social media. Like the EveryLibrary Facebook page follow them on Instagram.