For The People Newsletter Vol. XXXV
For everyone working to strengthen and expand public libraries
For The People Leftist Library Project (FTP) is entering our fourth year and the U.S. is in a different place politically than when we launched in 2023. However, we believe even more strongly that each of us can make the greatest difference at the local level. From our inception, we conceived of this project as a time-limited 5 year initiative. We identified 3 goals when we launched:
To recruit and train leftist library board candidates
To empower people to self-organize and take action
To provide resources for library defenders
We have made significant progress on each of our goals. With over 400 volunteers, we researched and then developed a tool that for the first time allows people who are interested in running for or seeking appointment to their local library board to more easily find information about those entities. This library board lookup tool has been used by over 350 unique users since our September 2025 launch. We’ve facilitated 2 cohorts of people interested in running for or seeking appointment to their local library board. We will begin our 3rd training cohort next month. Through all of our efforts, so far at least 40 people across the country have joined their local library board. We are thrilled to have played a role in encouraging more leftists to take public library governance seriously by participating in it.
We’ve also created many resources and tools including a People’s Assembly Toolkit for people to learn more about how public libraries function and how they can concretely support them. Finally, we’ve encouraged people to join their local friends of the library groups (more about this below), to raise awareness about local libraries through Libraries and Lemonade, and more.
We’re excited for what the next two years will bring. FTP will sunset at the end of 2027 and we can’t wait to see how others might build on what we’ve created.
In the meantime, we’ve got a lot of work to do and many plans including a National convening that we hope to organize in 2027. Stay tuned!
🗓️ Friends and Foundation Network Open House
Looking for a way to get more connected with your library? Consider getting involved with your Friends of the Library or Foundation group! Participation in Friends of the Library and Library Foundation groups is a great option for supporting public libraries and helping them meet community needs and interests--especially when getting on a library commission or board is not possible. Friends and Foundation groups raise funds for their libraries, increase local awareness about library programs and offerings, and can organize to support, strengthen, and protect their libraries. In other words, these groups are a great place for library defenders!
FTP is launching a Friends and Foundations Network to help folks get involved in their local Friends of the Library or Foundation group. The Network will ensure people understand the basics about public libraries and Friends and Foundation groups, provide ongoing support and resources, and be a place to connect with other people from across the country who are interested in joining these groups and bringing in a leftist perspective.
Save the date for our February 19th open house where we’ll be sharing more details about the Network—and be on the lookout for registration information coming soon. In the meantime, check out our Friends of the Library 101 zine to learn more about Friends and Foundation groups!
🗂️ 2025 Resources roundup
This newsletter reached 20,000 subscribers in 2025. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to fighting for public libraries. Here are some resources we designed and shared in 2025 to help in your fight:
People’s Assembly Toolkit: A toolkit to encourage public library defenders to conduct local People’s Assemblies (PA). A People’s Assembly (PA) involves a facilitated gathering where all community members discuss key community issues and collectively problem-solve and decide how to address them. Get your toolkit now.
Public Libraries 101 Video: Get great ideas for how to take action today in our Public Libraries 101 video (a companion piece to our zine but with additional info!). Share with friends and neighbors and come up with a plan together. Here’s the video
Friends Of the Library 101 zine: Friend groups are an effective way to organize broader support for your public library, to get more deeply involved in the practical workings of your library, to make sure the library better serves everyone in the community, and to get experience that can help you get on your library’s board. Learn more in FTP’s Friends of the Library 101 Zine! Read the zine here.
Public Library Board Lookup Tool: Want help finding details about your local public library board? Thanks to over 450 FTP volunteers, and a two-year data collection project, you can now use FTP’s Public Library Board Finder to learn more about your local board.
Share this newsletter with someone and invite them to be a public library defender and take action. FTP has a lot of ideas on how you and your community can take action.
FTP loves to hear from folks around the country about their experiences with their public library systems. Please reach out to us at forthepeoplelibraries@gmail.com if you would like to share a reflection in our newsletter.
🏛️ Local Library of the month
This month’s local library is Linden Library! Written by Cortney Black
My daughter & I make going to the library part of our weekly routines. We love to check out books and read by the mill pond. I have counted on my library to fax papers to my insurance company, to use the computer to apply for jobs, to research topics to finish classes, and to escape the madness of this crazy world by reading stories with my daughter. As a single mom, being able to go and have endless books at our disposal has been huge! We love reading but it can be pricey when you’re on a tight budget.
We want to feature your local library in our newsletter! Thanks to Cortney Black for writing in this month. Send us a photo and 100 words about what your library means to you and your community.
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.
You Can’t Fight Fascism While Defunding Libraries by Kelly Hayes
NC County Board Dissolves Library Panel Over Refusal to Ban Trans Book by Chris Walker for Truthout
Antonio La Cava on why libraries still matter in a digital world by Angelo Amante for Reuters
Bozeman library to host annual community vigil to memorialize unhoused via Explore Big Sky
Public Libraries: Many Buildings Are Reported to Be in Poor Condition, with Increasing Deferred Maintenance | U.S. GAO
Judge restores federal funding for museums and libraries, including in Alaska by Avery Ellfeldt
Tennessee whistleblower says library board chair sought private data as part of state’s book purge by Christopher Wiggins for Advocate
Library Board Dissolved Over One Trans Book by Aly Gibbs for Assigned Media
Librarians Are Being Asked to Find AI-Hallucinated Books by Claire Woodcock for 404 Media
The Last Video Rental Store Is Your Public Library by Claire Woodcock for 404 Media
North Philly legislator and his community remain at odds over the future of Cecil B. Moore Library by Michaela Althouse for Philly Voice
Freeing the Library | Los Angeles Review of Books by Aaron Boehmer
The Librarian’s Call: Documenting Is Resistance | Common Dreams by Rodney Freeman Jr.
US librarians tackle ‘manufactured crisis’ of book bans to protect LGBTQ+ rights by Claire Wang for The Guardian
Literary Hub » You can help build the first public library in Gaza since the genocide began.
‘Yarn Storm’ at Alexandria Library collects hundreds of hats, mittens and scarves for donation | ALXnow by Katie Taranto
Fighting Anti-Queer Backlash with Citizen Archivists - In These Times by Lindsay Eanet
Far from being past their shelf life, libraries are essential to help us navigate the world by Martha Gill for The Observer
'Books are going to take longer to get to libraries': What Baker & Taylor's demise means for comics by Gina Gagliano
📢 Take Action
Sign NYC Public Library Action Network’s letter to the NYC City Council to increase library funding.
🎟️ Upcoming Events of Interest
🎪Jan 3 | 12 – 5.30 pm | Brooklyn, NY | Solidarity Fest is a one-day festival on January 3rd at JACK in Brooklyn, New York which aims to connect Palestine to an array of social justice issues today, galvanizing artists and cultural workers to play a central role in bringing about change in their respective creative domains, localities, and workplaces.
📚Jan 2026 | Portland, Oregon | Applications for Reed Zine Fest open. The deadline is February 6th. More details here.
📚Jan 12 | 4 – 5.30 pm | Detroit, MI | January Zine Fest at Detroit Public Library: Chandler Park Branch
🗓️Deadline | Jan 12 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Apply to table at Zomics: A Festival of Zines and Comics
📚Jan 20 | 6 – 7.30 pm | San Francisco, CA | ZINETHING! A monthly LGBTQIA zine-making meetup presented by SF Zine Fest in partnership with the Hormel LGBTQIA Center. Open to new and experienced zinesters. Tell your story, tell your truth! Every 3rd Tuesday of the month. at James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, Main Library (100 Larkin St., SF)
📚Jan 31 | 9 am – 7.30 pm | Los Angeles, CA | Little Tokyo Zine Fest at the Tersaski Budokan
📚Jan 31 | 1 – 3 pm | Cincinnati, OH | Teen Fest: Zine and Comic Exchange at the Cincinnati Art Museum
🗓️Deadline | Feb 9 | Black Zine Fair Application for exhibitors and volunteers.