True democracy cannot exist without an informed citizenry. September 15, 2025, is International Democracy Day, a civic holiday celebrating democracy through shared dialogue, building trust, and preventing disinformation.

As trusted community centers dedicated to serving the public, libraries represent democratic ideals through daily practices. 

As a librarian, you are the cornerstone of democracy. You can leverage your role within your community to promote democracy by providing reliable information on a range of topics, from citizens’ constitutional rights to explaining election processes and procedures. Even your commitment to protecting the freedom to read promotes democracy worldwide. It ensures that the public has access to diverse perspectives and prevents the disenfranchisement of historically marginalized groups. 

Librarians are the cornerstones of democracy, providing reliable information on a range of topics, from your rights as a citizen to understanding election processes. However, your role extends beyond providing books and resources to patrons. You can be an active participant in promoting democracy and civic engagement by hosting candidate forums, creating accessible spaces, providing nonpartisan issue guides, and engaging in voter registration activities. As you promote civic engagement and celebrate other civic holidays, like National Voter Registration Day and Disability Voting Rights Week, you inherently promote and protect democracy for all. 

On International Democracy Day, remember the role that you can play in your local community to promote democracy by protecting the freedom to read. Take action today by hosting a voter registration drive, sharing election resources, or creating a space for civic dialogue to bring together all members of your community.