The importance of public libraries

Although libraries undoubtedly positively impact the communities around them, Representative Cody Smith’s proposal to defund all Missouri public libraries continue to threaten all they have accomplished.

Using the ACLU-MO court case where libraries protested book bans as the reasoning for defunding libraries is not only nonsequitur but, frankly, immature. Businesses and government branches should be able to legally argue with the governing body of a country and not get reprimanded for it, no matter the outcome of the argument. On top of that, these proposals would disproportionately affect minorities in many ways. 

Minorities that live in non-suburban areas have a higher dependency on state funding and, therefore, would be hurt the most by these cuts. Many suburban libraries collect significant donations from communities, lowering their dependence on state funding.

“Our rural libraries rely the most heavily on this funding to serve their communities, and they will be crippled by this drastic budget cut. Given the present political climate of Missouri, we anticipate librarians fleeing in droves. We anticipate rural libraries closing, or remaining open with diminished collections, event offerings and floundering under oppressive labeling systems devised by hamfisted partisans who know nothing about libraries, and care nothing for their communities beyond their ability to yield votes,” the Missouri Library Association (MLA) wrote in a released statement. 

The ACLU-MO case targets libraries for including explicit content regarding the LGBTQ+ community and ethnic minorities. The MLA is concerned that defunding the libraries is just another step in the ACLU-MO case, arguing that Missouri is trying to control the content in our libraries by defunding them.

“[The proposal] will be used almost exclusively to remove, label and restrict access to materials and events that feature the life experiences and stories of LGBTQ+, BIPOC, women and other historically marginalized communities – as has been a hallmark of anti-reader campaigns across the state and nation over the past year,” MLA wrote.

Libraries, whether through the school or the state, are extremely important to the neighborhoods around them. They provide accurate information, classes that help all age groups and opportunities for families to have fun. Even if community members decide not to use their public libraries, recognizing their importance is equally imperative. As Missouri’s Congress attempts to defund our public libraries, it is vital that community members remember how important our libraries are.

“There are so many good things that come from having a public space for neighbors to gather. Not everyone has access to good, true information — whether at our schools or the internet, not everyone has access to accurate information,” Brandmill said.