Across the country, over 16,000 libraries provide resources and services to Main Street America. These services are made available to all regardless of class, race or creed.

As Walter Cronkite put it, “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” Throughout the recession, caused by the collapse of the Wall Street casino economy, our libraries have taken huge hits in funding. The cuts continue. At the very time our communities need library services the most, libraries are forced to cut back. We must demand full funding for our libraries and insist that their integrity be maintained by keeping public libraries in the hands of the public.

Attempts are being made to privatize our libraries and cut services —and the 25,000 library workers of AFSCME are standing together to fight attacks against public libraries. We will not be shushed!

Take action now to help protect public libraries and their workers.