Public libraries need our help.
As reactionary forces target libraries through book bans and some liberal politicians propose funding cuts instead of increases for libraries, it’s essential that more leftists become involved in their local libraries. The Right is focused on taking over public institutions to privatize & weaken them.
We on the Left(s) must focus on strengthening and expanding public institutions that we value. For The People is an explicitly political project aimed at building power on the Left(s) to protect, defend, and expand public libraries in communities across the county.
THE PROBLEM
Public libraries need our help. As reactionary forces target libraries through book bans and some liberal politicians propose funding cuts instead of increases for libraries, it’s essential that more leftists become involved in their local libraries. The Right focuses on taking over public institutions to privatize & weaken them. We on the Left(s) must focus on strengthening and expanding public institutions that we value, and we believe that libraries are for everyone. Progressives and Leftists must put public libraries at the top of our organizing agendas.
OUR ANSWER
For the People is intended to be a decentralized, autonomous, volunteer-driven formation. There is no funding or fundraising associated; we have no money. But what we hope to have is people power as we develop over time. We need many more people, doing many different things locally across the country. There’s no need for permission or hierarchy: For The People seeks to empower individuals and communities to take action to protect, expand, and defend their local public libraries.
GOALS
Our primary goal is to identify, resource, empower, train, and elect or appoint leftist candidates to public library boards across the nation. Over the next five years (2023-2028), we aim to see at least 50 candidates elected or appointed. For The People intends to employ four primary mechanisms toward our goal:
The identification, recruitment, training, and support of candidate cohorts beginning in early 2024 for election and appointment to local library boards across the nation. FTP will develop training curricula specifically geared to support these candidates in their races and will partner with like-minded organizations.
The execution of a first-ever national data collection project to identify all elected or appointed public library board seats in the United States, their jurisdictions, methods of governance, and electoral processes.
The development, curation, and collection of a set of resources for leftists facing book bans and censorship in their local public libraries, including sample resolutions, sample legislation, talking points, guides, suggested actions, and other assets.
Raising awareness via partnerships, email lists, social media, earned media, and other means to empower people to self-organize and take individual action in their own communities in defense of the freedom to read and public libraries.
For The People is seeking to bring organizing power and people power to the fight over public libraries, the common good, and the freedom to read. There is no question that the vast majority of Americans are in favor of intellectual freedoms and have a deep love for public libraries as critical institutions in their communities. Our aim is to mobilize and empower people at the local level to do something about it, and to stand up for their public libraries in the face of right-wing and reactionary attempts to defund, censor, and privatize them.
GET INVOLVED WITH FOR THE PEOPLE
We’re getting organized to help folks run for - and win - seats on their local library boards. But this project is bigger than just elections. Maybe you’re ready to run (or getting ready), or maybe you want to support someone who is running. Or maybe you’re not sure elected office is for you, but you want to get more involved in helping protect and expand public libraries in your community.
Yes to all that: fill out our form and tell us how you want to participate.