“Who needs libraries?” Beneath those three words is an iceberg of challenges, from delivering on-point messaging, gathering compelling statistics, and the need to re-educate key audiences on the value of libraries, fundamental not only to librarians, but to our democratic society at large. The recent rash of anti-library trends, including the anti-tax movement, privatization, removal of independent library boards, and deprofessionalization, point to a systemic shift in our landscape that is very different than budget cuts and recession: an attack on libraries as a public service. The Boot Camp will help library communities prepare to advocate for libraries as fundamental building blocks to democracy. In this session, we’ll explore some of the brutal facts about our current environment, celebrate our assets, and offer practical tips to reclaim a moral sanction for the work we do, and the support our communities deserve.
