Send Librarians to Congress

Federal funding for libraries would be eliminated in the proposed “Skinny Budget” from President Trump. 

Many of our elected representatives are unaware of the work that librarians do for millions of Americans every day. We need to show Congress that librarians are providing critical services for communities and teach Congress about the impact that librarians’ work has in our big cities and small towns. Librarians come from all walks of life, backgrounds, and society, but what they have in common is a passion for learning, innovation, and making sure that knowledge is available, free of charge, and accessible to everyone. Libraries are not just rooms filled with books; they provide computers, cameras, kayaks and fishing equipment, 3D printers, recording studios, video games, and even neckties for people who aren’t able to get access anywhere else. This is the message that members of Congress need desperately to hear and you can help us raise the money we need to reach them.

Help us reach our goal by making a donation today!

Tell congress about the work that librarians do in the United States by helping us raise money to send them Kyle Cassidy’s book, This is What A Librarian Looks Like by May 9th.

Through his book, Kyle Cassidy has made it his mission to remind us of how essential librarians and libraries are to our communities. His subjects are men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and personal style--from pink hair and leather jackets to button-downs and blazers. The nearly 220 librarians photographed also share their personal thoughts on what it means to be a librarian. What A Librarian Looks Like also includes original essays by some of our most beloved writers, journalists, and commentators including Neil Gaiman, George R.R. Martin, Nancy Pearl, Cory Doctorow, Paula Poundstone, Amanda Palmer, Peter Sagal, Jeff VanderMeer, John Scalzi, Sara Farizan, Amy Dickinson, and others. Cassidy also profiles a handful of especially influential librarians and libraries.

This groundbreaking book educates readers about the role that librarians play in the social fabric of our communities. We are running this campaign to raise money to send every member of Congress a copy of this book (by May 9th) so they can see the importance of librarians themselves. It will cost $13,375 to send every member of the House and Senate a copy of this book. However, we are starting with a goal of raising $2,500 to send a copy to every member of the Senate. For every $25 we raise above that amount, we will send the book to a member of the House in ranking order until we send one to each member. If we raise more than $13,375, we will work our way through the list of governors, then to each high-ranking political official in the states. Let’s see how many politicians we can reach!

With any donation of $25 or more, we will also send you a thank-you card with art from the book and signed by Kyle Cassidy.

We are excited to partner with Hachette Book Group to educate our nation’s politicians through this initiative to send a copy of the book “This is What A Librarian Looks Like” to every member of Congress.

EveryLibrary is a registered 501c4 organization (FEIN 46-1534149). We invite you to check up on us before donating by finding out more about us on Guidestar, the most trusted guide to non-profits on the Internet.