“Library Staff Fired,” “Libraries Closed,” and “Parents Sue Over Books.” These are headlines that have increased in alarming quantities over the past few years as conservatives continue their affront against libraries. Just add the city or state, and you’ll see that it’s a nationwide phenomenon led by false ideologies against DEI, LGBTQ+ communities, and anti-racist movements.
During the 2024 election cycle, conservative organizations, politicians, and social media accounts are spreading fear and anger and using propaganda to solicit donations, scare voters, and raise their own profiles. Project 2025 is a part of the Heritage Foundation’s Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise. Project 2025 not only threatens libraries and access to knowledge but also endangers American democracy by promoting hyperpolarization and extremism. In it, they describe what they call “The Great Awokening,” which they claim to be a period of time beginning in the 1970s in which their conservative ideals and liberties were threatened by the “woke” mob.
However, their beliefs as to what exactly is revoking these liberties — and what they define as liberties for Americans — is what’s troubling. One of the “promises” in The Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise is to “remove pornography” from libraries, referring to books that cover topics like puberty and include LGBTQ+ characters. As books have become more diverse and inclusive — both in content and authorship — their attacks and bans have become stronger, all in the name of taking down what they refer to as the “woke” party to “protect America.” Their attacks have stretched from spreading baseless rumors about drag queen story hours and banning them altogether to passing legislation creating adults-only sections at libraries. Legislation, including possible fines, job loss, and even jail time for library professionals, has replaced reason.
As librarians, you already know the importance of books and materials that prevent misinformation on social media, promote democracy, and help encourage literacy, so now is the time to take action to prevent your library from being defunded, censored, and threatened. As extremist conservatives promote Project 2025 and their false promise, you can actively help protect democracy by serving as election administrators and encouraging your library to be civically engaged.
The Impact on Books and Libraries
As conservatives continue to thump the Bible, they shun books that provide other perspectives, explore other cultures and religions, teach children about their bodies and consent, and the list goes on.
In a poignant but heart-dropping post from Authors Against Book Bans, an organization dedicated to bringing together authors in the fight against book bans, they outlined how
Project 2025 and the promises made in Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise would impact books, libraries, and the freedom to read, including:
- Making it illegal to write or publish books with LGBTQ+ content, with supporters of the book being imprisoned and/or registered as a sex offender
- Shuttering technology and media companies that allow similar content
- Punishing libraries and teachers who champion the freedom to read in their classrooms
Combatting Project 2025 Through Nonpartisan Civic Engagement
Contrary to its authors' beliefs, The Conservative Promise harms democracy by encouraging hyperpolarization and turning nonpartisan issues like public education and books into political talking points. Libraries can help preserve democracy by participating in bridge-building initiatives to bring together community members from both sides of the political spectrum, serve as accessible polling places when possible, work with local election officials to conduct and promote voter registration and create a nonpartisan candidate and issue guides so that voters can be informed before they cast their ballot. Remember, you don’t have to be neutral to be nonpartisan.
To learn more about how you can get involved, visit https://www.VoteLibraries.org.