“The Resistance” Needs Libraries

There are two things that Americans love: their local post office and local library. Both are currently under attack by the Trump administration and his DOGE hatchet man, Elon Musk.

There are reports that Trump wants to replace the post office with some kind of privatized “system” to be developed by Amazon. And as repositories for the dreaded “book learning,” libraries have just had their grant funding frozen by the Illiterate In Chief.

Ben Franklin founded the first library in America in 1731. Andrew Carnegie, the 19^th century industrialist who expanded America’s steel industry, used his enormous wealth to fund 3,000 libraries. His reason? As a poor kid in Scotland, the free library was where he developed most of the education that later helped him amass his great fortune.

Everyone has a library story: visiting them in grammar school, getting their first library card, spending a rainy afternoon thumbing through adventures of all kinds. They are a beloved institution in our neighborhoods, but between funding cuts, relentless book bans and censorship (up 92 percent in one year), physical threats to librarians, and even bomb threats, they’re under assault. Literally.

The library is the beating heart of a community. Mine currently has a sign outside offering free tax help for seniors. There are classes in everything from writing a resume’ to gardening tips to mastering the latest technology. They provide free Wi-Fi and computers, services for the abused or unhoused, literacy programs, and even help in getting a passport. Some libraries offer an anonymous food pantry or provide free meals to kids during the summer. I’ve even read of some that offer free mobile showers for the homeless.

Libraries are funded by local and state taxes. But that’s not enough, hence the need for the federal dollars which the Trump administration has just, um, “paused.” In this era of having essential programs and services unceremoniously cut, your local library is a beacon of support, information, and help. Ensure that yours stays vital by doing the following:

-Get a library card. This demonstrates need and usage, a key factor when allocating local dollars. The more card holders there are, the stronger the case for financial resources.

-Actively use your library. Attend events, utilize their meeting rooms and other resources. Again, it makes the case that the library is worth funding and supporting.

-Join a “Friends of the Library” group. These groups advocate for their local library, lead fundraising efforts, and more. You can also speak up on the importance of the library through social media, a letter to the editor, at community meetings, or by contacting local officials.

-Donate. Support the library with a direct financial donation.

With so much changing in our world at breakneck speed, the local library is a welcome constant. Let’s resist these cruel funding cuts and do what we can to ensure that it remains.

Do it for Ben and Andrew.

Cindy Grogan is a writer, lover of history and "Star Trek" (TOS), and hardcore politics junkie. There was that one time she campaigned for Gerald Ford (yikes), but ever since, she's been devoted to Democratic and progressive policies.