For The People Newsletter Vol. XXV
For everyone working to strengthen and expand public libraries
Philly High School Youth Build Themselves a School Library
FTP became aware of these incredible student activists from the newspaper article we shared in the February 2025 newsletter. Their effort and success was so inspiring, we asked them to write up a short piece so all of us could learn more by hearing directly from these young leaders.
By Akeem Mack, Brooklyn Grigger, and Ryan King
Growing Up Without a Library
Brooklyn: My first school had a library full of books with a real librarian. I remember seeing older kids gathering in study groups, looking through books, chatting, and relaxing. It left an impression on me and it was something that stayed at the back of my mind for years. Throughout middle and high school, I yearned for that cozy spot where students could unwind and learn to adore books. But it never came.
Akeem: Growing up, we did not have a school library. A lot of us struggled with reading. In our schools, reading was seen as a boring task. Our books were uninteresting or difficult to understand. We never had a space where you could go read what you wanted, helping you explore who you are and what you like.
Building the DreamEscape Library
We've learned that libraries are more than just some room with books in it, but rather an essential resource for students, which is why creating a third space at KHSA was so important to us.
We attend Kensington Health Science Academy, a small neighborhood public school in North Philly. Our student government learned about the Philly Service Award, and we thought about poor reading habits that impact our community. We wanted to change that, so we decided the best thing to do would be to start a library.
After creating a website, soliciting donations, planning distribution, and creating a system for housing our books, we won the Young Entrepreneur's Award, earning $20,000 for the DreamEscape Library. We now have over 1000 books and hundreds of patrons. We staff our library after school to help kids find books and strive to create a diverse collection of books that genuinely interest students. We want our library to be a comfortable and inviting space where students can relax and read.
But truthfully, we believe that the School District needs to return funding to libraries so that students have access to the full-time libraries and librarians that they deserve.
Announcing: Criminalization 202 for Information Workers
Criminalization 202 for Information Workers - March 27 from 6:30-8 pm ET - Join For The People Leftist Library Project (FTP) and Interrupting Criminalization (IC) for a workshop building off of our 2023 Criminalization 101 for Information Workers workshop. We’ll focus on three main topics: resisting and disrupting ICE in library and information work and workplaces, de-escalation in library spaces, and abortion and reproductive health information criminalization. The workshop will give participants opportunities for discussion, resource sharing, and concrete tools and ideas they can use in their own communities and workplaces. This session will be co-facilitated by Mariame Kaba, Megan Riley, and Bean Yogi. ASL and live captioning will be provided. Register here.
#Warm4Holidays Kit Update
Laura, featured here, responded to our call to partner with local libraries to help our unhoused neighbors
“Thank you for coming up with the idea of making winter warming kits to distribute to public libraries! I recently worked together with a group of friends to make 25 kits, plus a few extra items (since we had more than 25 of some things), which we gave to the Roxbury Public Library in Boston. Some of the items were handmade by friends who knit or crochet, and others were store-bought. I have attached a few pictures of the kits!”
Keep it going in 2025 with Spring/Summer kits!
Favorite Library Quotes
FTP asked folks to send in their favorite library quotes…and you did! We will feature them throughout the year, starting this month.
“One of my good habits that contribute[s] to worldmaking now was bothering librarians a lot.”
– Octavia Butler, Los Angeles Public Library blog website
Updates from Library Land
Here’s a roundup of interesting reading and listening material that we think you’ll appreciate. Sometimes articles may be paywalled. In other news, sometimes it’s nice to use tools like Archive.today or the Wayback Machine.
Publishers, Authors Guild Sue State of Idaho Over Book Banning Law by Jim Milliot, for Publishers Weekly
Project 2025’s Creators Want to Dox Wikipedia Editors. The Tool They’re Using Is Horrifying. by Stephen Harrison for Slate
AI-Generated Slop Is Already In Your Public Library by Emanuel Maiberg for 404 Media
Scholasticide in Gaza Means There Are Almost No Schools or Colleges Left by Esraa Abo Qamar for Teen Vogue
In Detroit, a Broad “People’s Assembly” Forms to Guide the Movement Against ICE by Brian H. Silverstein and Tristan Taylor for Left Voice
Saving history: These archivists' mission to preserve social media record of war in Gaza by Charlie Bell and Agnes Ored for SBS News
Librarians and Allies Must Act to Secure the Future of Libraries and Intellectual Freedom by Christina Joseph for School Library Journal
Multi-level barrage of US book bans is ‘unprecedented’, says PEN America by Marina Dunbar for The Guardian
What If We Ran The Economy? (watch) by Andrew Sage (self published)
Employees urge BPL to let coworker with breast cancer use donated sick bank days by Marilyn Schairer for GBH
Episode #117: To Be Close to Books with Emily Drabinski (listen) by Bill Ayers and Emily Drabinski for Under The Tree
Foreword: Censorship is a Drag by Emily Drabinski
New Mexico considers ban on book bans, bucking national trend by Nash Jones for KUNM
Books in school libraries could get an extra layer of protection from bans by Jenny Brundin for CPR News
Pentagon schools suspend library books for ‘compliance review’ under Trump orders by Ed Pilkington for The Guardian
Authors Against Book Bans: How Authors Against Book Bans helped defeat attempted library censorship in Florida. by James Folta for Literary Hub
Multnomah County Library Will End Its School Corps and Books2U Programs This Year by Joanna Hou for Willamette Week
10 Ways You Can Show Your Favorite Library Some Love by Every Library
Video Introduction to The 1939 Library Sit-In Project (watch) by New America
How Khari Arnold is Bringing Dads in Atlanta Together at the Library by Dear Fathers
JFK Library to reopen after federal firings forced a 'temporary closure' Tuesday by Beth HealyEmily Piper-Vallillo for WBUR
Iowa Rushes, Advances Librarian Criminalization Bill by Kelly Jensen for Book Riot
Ex-NFL Player Dragged Out by Cops After Calling MAGA a “Nazi Movement” by Edith Olmsted for The New Republic
Fighting Book Bans (watch) by Amanda Jones for Defense of Democracy
145 - Queer Liberation Library with Avi and Amber by Queer Liberation Library for librarypunk
Fifty-Five Years of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association by Phil Morehart for ALA/I Love Libraries
New Iowa Bill Would Revoke Funding for Library Affiliation with the American Library Association by Kelly Jensen for Book Riot
What Would It Look Like If Librarians Ran the Government Instead of These Fools? By Emily Drabinski for Truthout
Take Action
Tell Your NYC Council Member to Cosponsor the Librarians Count Bill
Sign the Petition: Stop Punishing Utah Students for Reading!
Share your story about the impact of federal funding on libraries!
Tell Vancouver Public Library to Reverse Anti-Palestinian Ban
Increase library funding in the FY 2026 Budget and stop proposed cuts!
Declaration To Defend Research Against U.S. Government Censorship
Upcoming Events of Interest
March 14 - Virtual Meeting of Librarians and Information Workers for Incarcerated People and People in the Process of Reentry https://sfpl-org.zoom.us/j/86974528870
March 15 - Apply for the Library Freedom Institute
March & April - One Book 2025: They Called Me a Lioness by Ahed Tamimi and Dena Takruri; a book reading event organized by Librarians with Palestine.
Comrades Education's Study & Action for Palestine online course, a learning community for anyone who is committed to a Free Palestine and the well-being of all people, everywhere. Live sessions will be held: March 16, March 30, April 6, April 20, April 27 and May 4 from 4:30 to 6:30pm ET.
Webinar: 'Global perspectives on prison libraries' sponsored by UNESCO
A library is really a spaceship , a ship with sails , and a Time Machine !