The current climate of censorship threatens to unravel the very fabric of librarianship. Librarians are under attack, facing threats to their safety and professional integrity, while at the same time library services are being stripped of their inclusivity. Misinformation has damaged librarians’ reputation, labeling us anti-American and labeling libraries as spaces that attempt to indoctrinate communities by making obscene information available to youth. If these attacks continue unabated, librarianship can quickly become reminiscent of a time when segregation and censorship ruled library spaces.
Now more than ever, ALA needs radical leadership—a president who will engage in meaningful dialogue with allies and critics alike, to emphasize how equitable library services and social justice are not anti-American.
Andrew Carnegie once stated, “There is not such a cradle of democracy on earth as the free public library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.”
Libraries are America’s sanctuaries of knowledge, spaces where freedom of thought and the dignity of every individual are preserved. To protect this status, ALA needs a president who will not only talk about equity but also work to ensure that equitable services are codified and that library workers are protected and supported when providing equitable access to information.
Throughout my career, I have been a staunch advocate for intellectual freedom and inclusion, working tirelessly to make libraries welcoming spaces for all. Whether through my books, research, teaching, presentations, or committee work, I have been committed to intentionality and have taken active steps to make libraries more equitable.
As president, I will work with ALA’s extraordinary members and leaders to build on the progress we’ve made as an organization. As the chief spokesperson, I will lead efforts to make it clear that we cannot afford to become indifferent in the face of social intolerance. We cannot afford to deprive communities of critical information literacy. And we cannot afford to let the preferences of a few dictate the access of many.
As ALA president, I will advocate for policies that create protections for library workers against physical threats, intimidation, and censorship-related attacks. Every library worker deserves to feel secure and valued in their role as a defender of intellectual freedom. I will lead efforts to change the narrative about libraries, using media platforms to highlight library professionals’ essential, transformative work.
In response to increasing censorship, I will work with ALA leadership to continue building alliances with educators, organizations, and advocates to safeguard intellectual freedom and ensure diverse voices remain accessible. I will advocate for more resources for school and public librarians and library workers who currently bear the brunt of censorship challenges. I will work with academic, special, and international libraries to explore ways to strengthen our strategies in addressing censorship issues. I will also work to create greater transparency within the Association between leadership and members.
More importantly, as president of ALA, I will stand with all members as guardians of democracy.
