Elections targeting libraries proved a mixed bag
Election Day 2024 was mixed for libraries on the ballot across the country, which provides a small ray of optimism in an otherwise barren scarlet landscape. It is well known that conservative Republicans have waged a culture war on libraries for the past several years, particularly those that support and provide services for LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities.
The EveryLibrary Foundation, an organization that advocates for and assists besieged libraries nationwide, identified and tracked a number of libraries facing ballot initiatives across the country. Final results indicated that supporters of libraries were able to prevent the red wave from becoming the tsunami that occurred elsewhere.
According to the latest tally by the Foundation, as of Nov. 11, there are clear results in 154 communities, with 127 having passed their ballot measures and 27 having lost, with one defunding measure (in Arkansas) also failing. This is approximately an 80% "win rate," which is down from the 10-year running average of 90% wins, but still a better ratio than in other races, dominated as so many were by the Republican red wave. Many of last weekâ€TMs wins were levy renewals and annual budget votes in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and most other states. Propositions, levies and referendums for new funding did not pass as frequently as renewals.
The good news is that in most states, including Pennsylvania, issues relating to library funding and policies, both public and school, are decided by city councils and school boards and are seldom decided by ballot, except for when tax rates are at issue.
The flip side of that, especially as concerning Pennsylvania, is that the state electoral map is largely a sea of red, except for a few urban enclaves like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and, surprisingly, Allentown. This means that Republicans will have maintained or expanded their grip on those local entities that control librariesâ€TM purse strings.
Nevertheless, Pennsylvaniaâ€TMs libraries were spared having to face any statewide ballot initiatives, according to VoteSmart.org.
In the counties surrounding Philadelphia, there were scant ballot initiatives that impacted libraries, but according to reports by BallotPedia.org, the news there was not good. In Chester County, for instance, New Garden Township voted no on a small property tax increase to fund that townshipâ€TMs financially strapped Kennett Library.
News is significantly better in other states. Funding was approved for massive building projects to improve or expand libraries in Illinois, California and New York. New operational funding was approved by many cities and counties in Ohio, West Virginia, New Mexico and Michigan, among others.
Unfortunately, the Rochester Public Library District failed its third attempt to fund building expansions and operating costs. The Illinois wing of the Koch Brothersâ€TM Americans for Prosperity anti-tax organization fielded robocalls, direct mail and online ads against the library in the last two weeks of the campaign which tipped opinions against the library. EveryLibrary reports that this is the first time since before the pandemic that the AFP has come out against a library so directly. Other libraries in Indiana, Idaho and elsewhere faced similar setbacks.
For the year, EveryLibrary identified 153 library elections in total. This is a significantly smaller number of libraries going to the voters than in any presidential election year in recent memory. It continues a year-to-year decline that began in 2017 and was amplified by the pandemic. In some states, going to the ballot is the only way for public libraries to increase their operating funds or to issue debt for new building projects. If library leaders look at the political or social circumstances and decide against attempting a ballot measure, they will not be able to fund their libraries properly, making the job of conservative seeking to control, silence or eliminate libraries altogether that much easier.
