Across the country, public libraries are under attack.
Battles over banning books have placed librarians in the middle of an emerging culture war. These public servants have recently been labeled pedophiles, reported to law enforcement. Some have quit over the harassment. Others have been fired for taking a principled stand against removing books from circulation.
The books in question tend to center on topics of race, gender and sexual orientation.
In a more subtle but equally corrosive way, libraries are under attack also from chronic underfunding.
At Boulder Library Foundation, we find these trends alarming.
Public libraries stand for three principles:
- They are free and open to all
- They are committed to true and accurate information
- They stand against censorship
It is not okay that these basic principles have become politicized. It is not okay that the Boulder Public Library’s public funding has stayed basically flat over 20 years, while our city’s population has grown and demand for library services has skyrocketed.
Join us in defending our public libraries. Donate to Boulder Library Foundation to support strong buildings, strong programming and steadfast advocacy.
