Libraries After the 2024 Vote: the Future of Libraries in a Divided America

Join us for a preview of the upcoming special issue of The Political Librarian.

After years of growing pressures on libraries through budget cuts, pandemic shutdowns, and an empowered censorship movement, the 2024 local, state, and federal elections further challenge their position in American society. Join this conversation with the editorial team of the forthcoming special issue of The Political Librarian, which examines the implications of the 2024 election for the library sector.

Allison Jennings-Roche of the University of Baltimore and Paul Jaeger of the University of Maryland served as guest editors of this issue. They will discuss the forthcoming issue and preview selections with John Chrastka, EveryLibrary Institute Executive Director.

This webinar will highlight the following selections from this issue.

• On Moving Forward By Anonymous
• A Service as Easy as Ordering Takeout: Tech, Startups, and the Business Ontology by Jennie Rose Halperin
• Thank You for Your Service to the American Public: A Perspective from a Fired Federal Worker by Carrie Price
• Upholding Trust in Library Partnerships with Immigrants: Reflections on the Impact of Trump 2024 by Ana Ndumu and Hayley Park 
• November 5, 2024: Three Sources of Lessons for Libraries by John Buschman 

Of key importance is trying to determine and examine the political, policy, economic, legal, advocacy, and cultural lessons that librarians and their supporters can learn from the current political climate to reestablish widespread public support for libraries, protect our institutions and communities in the coming years, and succeed in addressing future political challenges.

This special of The Political Librarian aims to help readers understand how this hate-fueled and unforgiving new political reality will impact libraries, archives, and museums. This issue, “Libraries After the 2024 Vote: The Future of Libraries in a Divided America,” provides twenty articles discussing and analyzing what the 2024 election may indicate for the future of libraries and library work, offering a wide range of perspectives and ideas from educators, researchers, administrators, and professionals.

Please RSVP now to watch the webinar, get the on-demand recording, and receive an email reminder when the full issue hits. 

Full list of articles in this issue: 

Fight if You Can Win. Otherwise, Negotiate.

By BILL CROWLEY

Information Literacy Should Be About Democracy, Not Databases

By STEPHEN "MIKE" KIEL

Libraries: Guardians of Democracy

By NANCY KRANICH

The Urgent Need for Political Literacy in LIS Education

By SONYA M. DURNEY

Seven Mantras of Information Wisdom and Political Acumen for American Libraries in the Aftermath of the 2024 Presidential Election

By BHARAT MEHRA

Safeguarding Libraries, Schools, and Communities from Political Threats: A Strategic Framework for Engagement, Advocacy, and Sustainable Organizing

By KACEY CARPENTER

We Are Not Helpless: Some Lessons for Libraries, Archives, and Museums from a Lifetime of Researching Policy, Political, and Legal Processes

By PAUL T. JAEGER

Dear Professors: Teaching Archiving in Times of Continued Uncertainty and Unrest

By BRITNEY BIBEAULT

Sentiments on the State of Libraries After the Election

By ANDREW T. SULAVIK

On Moving Forward

By LIBRATOR

Thank You for Your Service to the American Public: A Perspective from a Fired Federal Worker

By CARRIE PRICE

Recognizing and Resisting Censorship in Online Safety Bills: A Framework for Libraries

By KATHERINE KLOSEK

Mapping Racism, Charting Change: A Regional Approach to Incorporating the Striving Towards Anti-Racism (STAR) in LIS Model

By RACHEL D WILLIAMS AND NICOLE COOKE

“Heritage Is More than a Job”: Implications of Project 2025 on the Future of Libraries, Archives, and Museums

By LYDIA CURLISS AND QADIRA LOCKE, PAUL T. JAEGER

November 5, 2024: Three Sources of Lessons for Libraries

By JOHN BUSCHMAN

Upholding Trust in Library Partnerships with Immigrants: Reflections on the Impact of Trump 2024

By ANA NDUMU AND HAYLEY PARK

A Service as Easy as Ordering Takeout: Tech, Startups, and the Business Ontology

By JENNIE ROSE HALPERIN

A Love Letter to Libraries in Our Darkest Hour: An Introduction to a Special Issue of The Political Librarian, “The 2024 Election and the Future of Libraries”

By GUEST EDITORS: ALLISON JENNINGS-ROCHE, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL INITIATIVES & COLLECTIONS, RLB LIBRARY, THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE, AND PAUL T. JAEGER, PROFESSOR AND 

DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR-TEACHER, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND. Clarifying Intellectual Freedom, Neutrality, and Professional Expertise to Better Defend Libraries from Books Bans, Disinformation, and Defunding

By PAUL T. JAEGER AND ALLISON JENNINGS-ROCHE

Gender, Politics, and The Public Library: How Polarization and Feminization Conspired to Destabilize One of “The Most Trusted Professions”

By ALLISON JENNINGS-ROCHE