Save Libraries in Your State

This page was last updated April 16, 2013.

ALA Chapters have created—or helped create—websites dedicated to saving the libraries in their states. Among those are Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas. As more become known, links will be provided to them here. (If you think a link should be provided here, please suggest it to Don Wood at dwood@ala.org.)

Each ALA Chapter has a website that includes how to advocate and take action for libraries. See also CRO's Legislation and Advocacy page, the pages of the Office for Library Advocacy, and immediately below to find related links that include tips on how to spread the word to save your libraries!

To help United States Libraries after natural and other disasters, see Helping United States Libraries After Disasters. To help international libraries, please contact the American Library Association International Relations Office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3201. Efforts in 2011 include Haiti Library Relief Fund, Chile Library Relief Fund, and the Japan Library Relief Fund

Save Our Libraries

$2 Million in One Week (FB) (Charlotte Mecklenberg, NC)

Campaign for Wisconsin Libraries (FB)

Citizens in Support of the Des Plaines Public Library (FB)

Don't Close the Books on Libraries (FB) (Massachusetts Library Association)

Geek the Library

Geek the Library (FB)

Georgians Against Closing State Archives (FB)

Helping U.S. Libraries (ALA)

I Love Libraries.org, a Web site designed for the people who use and love libraries (ALA)

I Love Libraries (FB) (ALA)

Keep Your Library Open (Boston Public Library)

Michigan Libraries for the Future

New York Libraries: Essential

People of Boston Branches

Restore Funds for IL Library Systems (FB)

Save California Public Library and Literacy Funding (FB)

Save Florida Libraries (FB)

Save Illinois Libraries

Save Libraries

Save Libraries (FB) (Lori Reed, East Carolina)

Save My New Jersey Library

Save NJ Libraries! (FB) (Andy Woodworth)

Save Ohio Libraries ; see also Save Ohio Libraries Campaign (MS Word)

Save Ohio Libraries (FB) (Lori Arthur Augustine)

Save Oakland Libray (FB)

Save South Carolina Libraries (FB) (Curtis Rogers)

Save our Libraries, Save State Aid to Libraries (blog) (A Systems Librarian with a passion for serving libraries and a love of FL's Springs)

Save Queens Library!

Save the Glendale Public Libraries (FB)

Save Our Texas Libraries!

Save the Library (Los Angeles Public Library)

State and Regional Chapters

Links to each ALA Chapter can be found on the State and Regional Chapters directory. Visit your state's website for information on libraries in your state and legislation affecting them. (See also Library Advocacy below.)

Library Advocacy

Chapter Relations Office

The Chapter Relations Office supports ALA's library advocacy efforts by tracking state and federal legislation affecting libraries and by working with the Office for Library Advocacy, the ALA Washington Office, I Love Libraries, other ALA units, and other groups. For links to resources and other information—including where to take action—see CRO's Legislation and Advocacy page (which links to Take Action for Libraries) and Advocacy (wiki) page.

Follow CRO on Twitter at @ALA_CRO. Find and send tweets on saving libraries with #saveSTATElibraries; for example, #saveconnecticutlibraries, #savemichiganlibraries, #saveohiolibraries. Also include #savelibraries in the message. If you send out tweets to save the libraries in your state, please send a note to dwood@ala.org. Maybe ALA can help.

Office for Library Advocacy

ALA has an office dedicated to library advocacy: Office for Library Advocacy. OLA supports the efforts of advocates seeking to improve libraries of all types by developing resources, a peer-to-peer advocacy network, and training for advocates at the local, state and national level. In order to achieve this goal, OLA works closely with the Public Information Office, the Chapter Relations Office, the Office for Government Relations, and other ALA units involved in advocacy on behalf of particular types of libraries or particular issues, in order to help better integrate these efforts into the overall advocacy planning and strategies of the association. OLA also works to cultivate future leadership in order to sustain the advocacy efforts of the association.

OLA has several resources, including Advocacy University and Add it Up: Libraries Make the Difference in Youth Development and Education.

Be sure to visit I Love Libraries, the American Library Association's (ALA's) website for the public, designed to keep America informed about what's happening in today's libraries. And I Love Libraries on Facebook. In addition, sign up to receive the I Love Libraries newsletter.

How Can ALA Help

If you would like to find out what the American Library Association is doing to save your libraries, what ALA can do to help your libraries, or if you would like ALA to help save your libraries, please let us know. Contact us at dwood@ala.org.