A report back from the frontlines of defending public libraries

From Mariame Kaba

For The People Leftist Library Project (FTP) invited people during Library Week (April 23-29) to…

Visit your local library and ask if they have a “Friends of the Library” group. Find out what the group does and decide if you want to join as a volunteer.

As an incentive we promised that the first 50 people to join a Friends group or to plan to join one would receive a small gift from us - Library Defenders Stickers, For The People buttons, and/or postcards. We asked them to complete a form so we could have their mailing addresses and emails to send the small gift and to be able to follow up. 

I am happy to report that 46 people completed our form and of these 38 respondents indicated that they joined (or took steps towards joining) a ‘Friends of the Library’ group. 

THAT IS AMAZING.

Of these we had mailing addresses for 34 people and small gifts were mailed out to them. 

The 38 respondents who indicated that they joined (or took steps towards joining) a ‘Friends of the Library’ group” represent 20 states including IL, VT, NJ, CA, SC, DE, MD, PA, OK, MO, NY, MI, MT, FL, MA, VA, WA, WI, NM, LA plus DC.

FTP is thrilled to know that people are taking local action in this way to support public libraries. In the coming weeks and months, we hope that thousands of people will join in and start working directly to defend public libraries in their communities. 

Stay tuned for information about our quarterly Friend of the Library group member virtual meet ups for Leftists! More soon.

Learn more about FTP and our work here: