Libraries: An American Value

What does your library mean to you? Even during chaotic times, we all hope we can count on our local library. To ensure that libraries flourish and have the freedom to promote and protect the public good for today and tomorrow, each one of us must step up to provide financial support, volunteer assistance, and advocacy for our libraries. Libraries contribute to a future that values and protects freedom of speech in a world that celebrates both our similarities and our differences, respects individuals and their beliefs, and holds all persons truly equal and free.       

Libraries are essential. They provide free and equitable access to information imperative for education, employment and enjoyment. They are crucial community hubs, offering safe public spaces for learning, gathering, and connecting with others. Libraries also act as vital resources for job seekers and entrepreneurs, all while supporting democratic ideals and individual empowerment.

If these values resonate with you, donate to your library, volunteer, or call your representative to advocate for full funding for our libraries. The impact of libraries cannot be overstated.

Click to see more information about any of the RCLF-funded initiatives or to donate.

Torrey Smith, Cofounder and Engineering Fellow, Endiatx, said “Public libraries changed my life. As a young kid coming from a family of limited means, libraries were the sanctuary where I could explore the world through the books I read and brought home. Those books were both an inspiration, as well as an onramp, to my education as an aerospace engineer.”