Attacks on Public LIbraries
Public libraries are more than repositories for books—they are pillars of democracy, offering free access to information, internet connectivity, job and education resources, and safe spaces for civic dialogue and community connection. Yet today, these vital institutions are under coordinated and escalating attack.
At the national level, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—the primary federal agency supporting libraries and museums—is facing unprecedented threats. Proposed federal budgets have called for the elimination of IMLS entirely, and recent reporting by The New York Times and NPR has highlighted political interference by a newly appointed, ideologically motivated board. Dismantling IMLS would destabilize a funding infrastructure that supports more than 120,000 public and school libraries nationwide.
These cuts would be devastating—especially for rural, under-resourced, and historically marginalized communities, where libraries often serve as the only accessible source for digital tools, educational programming, and lifelong learning.
At the same time, local libraries across the country are facing funding threats and political retaliation for refusing to censor inclusive content. Many have suffered from harassment, bomb threats, and even violence against staff, simply for upholding the right to read and the principle of open access.
The consequences are not abstract—they are happening now. What’s under attack is not only funding, but the very foundation of a free and informed society.
We stand with public libraries and the librarians, educators, and community members who defend them every day. Because when libraries are under attack, democracy is under threat.
