Vote Libraries Month is For Libraries Like Macon-Bibb

Some libraries are threatened by the local politicians like we saw in Macon-Bibb Georgia.

We began working with the leadership at MGRL in late June when we found out that the County Commissioners in Macon were threatening the Macon Libraries with the potential closure of 3 branches in the library system.

Thanks to our supporters and donors we were able to quickly build a petition campaign on our action platform that allowed concerned community members to contact the commissioners to express their concern about the loss of the libraries. But we could have done more with more support from people like you!

Throughout the campaign we were able take substantial action to fight back! We spent significant funds to put the petition in front of hundreds of thousands of Americans and tens of thousands of local residents. We were also able to email our growing network of over 100,000 identified library supporters who quickly helped contact representatives and spread word about this crisis to help make the library closures a national issue. Finally, we supported the advocates on the ground by alerting local supporters to attend a rally on the night of the first budget vote. We kept pressure on County Commissioners by asking supporters to continue to attend meetings until the final vote was cast.

While it took significant resources to build this action, we are pleased that ultimately the county commissioners voted for emergency funding to keep the libraries open and for a millage rate that secures funding for the libraries into the foreseeable future.

Sign the pledge to vote yes for libraries in the United States!

Vote Libraries Month is important because if more Americans pledge to vote for politicians who support libraries then we won't face crisis like the one we faced in Macon, Georgia. If elected officials know that Americans support their local libraries then they won't threaten them with cuts. And, if we know that people like you support libraries then we can put together more of the resources we need to make sure that libraries can keep their doors open and continue to serve their communities. That's why we're asking you to sign and share the pledge to vote for libraries in the United States and for politicians who support libraries.

We were proud to lend our networks, funds, tools and resources to the local fight for the Macon-Bibb library. We know that our methodology works because we’ve put it into action fighting for public and school libraries across the country. We know that the threats to libraries are not over and that we need to keep fighting by building the tools and resources that libraries need to win. We also know that we need to continue to identify library supporters across the country so that we can activate millions of Americans anytime a library is threatened in the United States. That is just what the first and only National Political Action Committee for libraries should do.

A one donation of $5 or a monthly donation of $1 or more helps support national Vote Libraries Month!

If we want to continue to support libraries, we need your support. There are two important ways that you can help. First, please take a moment and invite your friends and family to sign the pledge for libraries. Second, please consider starting a monthly donation of just $1, $3, or $5 or a one-time donation of $5 or more and we'll send you an "I Love My Library" bumper sticker.