Your Vote Matters: Local and State Elections are Crucial for the Future of Public Libraries

As we approach the November 2024 elections, voters across the country will make decisions that directly impact their communities, including the future of public libraries. While presidential and congressional races often take center stage, it’s important to recognize that local and state elections have just as much—if not more—immediate impact on your public library.

Voters will make decisions that have a direct and lasting impact on their communities, especially their public libraries. With over 14,000 city council seats, 5,807 state legislative seats, and 11 gubernatorial races on the ballot, this election cycle holds enormous potential for shaping library funding, policies, and accessibility. While national races often capture attention, it’s these local and state elections that will determine the future of libraries and the communities they serve. The Libraries2024 initiative is here to break down why your vote in these local and state elections matters for the future of public libraries, free speech, and community well-being.

Local Control: Public Libraries and Property Taxes

Did you know that 92% of public library funding is raised locally, primarily through property taxes? This means that in the 60% of public libraries that are part of towns, cities, and counties, your local elected officials—city councils, mayors, and county boards—are key players in determining the library’s budget. They decide tax rates and budget allocations and approve bond measures that fund both the maintenance of library buildings and critical library services. Your vote in these local elections directly affects whether your library remains well-funded, up-to-date, and accessible to all.

State Legislators: Marginal Support and Big Influence

While the bulk of library funding comes from local taxes, state legislators play an important role, too. They appropriate about 6% of public library budgets, which can be crucial for the marginal success or failure of library operations. These funds often support state-level initiatives like summer reading programs, technology grants, and library construction projects. Additionally, your state representatives make decisions that affect access to materials, intellectual freedom, and free speech within libraries. They introduce and pass laws that impact what libraries can and cannot offer—from determining whether libraries are a protected space for all materials to passing censorship laws related to obscenity or "harmful content." 

State legislatures also pass laws that directly affect intellectual freedom, book bans, and library access. In recent years, some states have passed laws that limit access to certain books in public libraries, particularly around topics like race, gender, and LGBTQ+ issues. This makes electing state-level leaders who prioritize free access to information even more vital. Governors, while instrumental in setting policies, rely on state legislatures to pass these laws, which can shape what is accessible to the public in your libraries.

Governors and Policy Leadership

Governors also have significant influence over public libraries. While the legislature passes laws regulating library access, collection development, and issues of censorship, the Governor helps them in setting statewide policy priorities. In recent years, we've seen some states pass laws that limit access to certain books and materials in public libraries, particularly concerning topics related to race, gender, and LGBTQ+ issues. The governor eventually signs these bills and sometimes influences legislative agendas. This makes it all the more crucial to elect state-level leaders, including governors, who support free access to diverse materials and who will stand against censorship.

Bond Measures and Library Referendum

As voters, you may also see bond measures or local tax propositions on your ballot that directly affect the funding of your public libraries. These measures could raise funds for building new libraries, remodeling outdated spaces, or expanding services. It is important to consider the long-term benefits of voting in favor of such bonds or millage increases, as public libraries are key community hubs that offer resources well beyond books—like internet access, job training, and community programming.

Libraries: More Than Just Books

Public libraries are evolving beyond their traditional role to become vital centers for social innovation and civic engagement. They partner with community organizations to address challenges like food access, job training, and even crisis response, such as during extreme weather emergencies. As Kelvin Watson, Executive Director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, says in an interview with the Urban Libraries Council, “We’re the anchor for many more things than books.” In his district, libraries run a hydroponic garden program to combat food insecurity, teaching people how to grow healthy food without soil.

This is just one example of how libraries provide critical services to the community. They are increasingly becoming hubs for social well-being and trust-building in public institutions. Libraries are designed to serve this purpose with accessible community rooms and trained staff who act as facilitators and communicators beyond the traditional role of locating books. These partnerships between libraries and community organizations are transforming libraries into indispensable public spaces.

The Cost of Censorship

Another vital consideration for voters in 2024 is the growing wave of book bans and challenges to materials in public and school libraries. These efforts often lead to costly legal battles, diverting valuable taxpayer dollars from acquiring new materials and expanding library services. When legislators or local elected officials pass laws limiting access to certain materials, they are not only restricting free speech but also using funds that could otherwise support more robust, inclusive library collections.

The Return on Investment

Public libraries provide a tremendous return on investment for taxpayers. On average, each household in the U.S. pays about $7.50 per month to support public libraries, yet libraries deliver around $5 to $9 of value for every dollar spent. Libraries do more than provide books; they offer educational programming, digital access, job resources, and safe community spaces. Voting for leaders who prioritize libraries means investing in a stronger, more informed, and more connected community.

The relationship between libraries and local governments is crucial. Elected officials often serve as key partners in securing funding, addressing community needs, and maintaining library services. Libraries can provide a safe, accessible space for officials to engage with the public and hold town hall meetings. In return, officials are kept informed about the pressing issues facing their constituents—issues that libraries deal with firsthand.

Libraries: A Cornerstone of Democracy

Libraries are essential to a functioning democracy. They are one of the few public spaces where everyone—regardless of income, background, or age—has equal access to information. Whether it's access to the internet, helping people develop digital literacy skills, or providing a safe space for community dialogue, libraries uphold the principles of free speech and access to knowledge. By voting in local and state elections, you’re not just supporting your library—you’re standing up for the core values of democracy.

What You Can Do

1. Learn about your candidates: Where do they stand on library funding and intellectual freedom? Do they support your right to access information and oppose censorship?
2. Vote for library referenda, levies, and bond measures: These ballot measures fund crucial projects that keep libraries modern and accessible.
3. Spread the word: Encourage your friends and neighbors to vote in support of libraries and free speech.
4. Get involved locally: Attend city council meetings or candidate forums and ask how they will support your local library.

The November 2024 elections are more than just an opportunity to select governors, state legislators, and local officials—they are a chance to protect and invest in our public libraries. Every vote you cast influences the future of libraries in your community. Make your voice heard, and ensure that libraries remain a vibrant, essential resource for all.

Join us in supporting libraries by voting in the 2024 elections. Together, we can ensure that libraries continue to thrive as the cornerstone of our communities. Take the Pledge to Vote for Libraries this election season and ensure we have communities that will thrive.