Welp, the Missouri House of Legislatures just voted to defund public libraries.
I’m honestly shocked and dismayed and heartbroken. Like, I knew things were bad, but I didn’t think it was this bad already.
I’m also quite frankly shocked at how small the state budget for libraries was in the first place ($4.5 million). I’ve visited so many quality libraries all across Missouri that do so much for their communities. When I was a social worker, the local library was always the first place I’d visit in the communities I worked in, because I knew they had good services to offer and could help me get connected to other local supports. Like, even from just a heartless financial standpoint, I can guarantee public libraries are worth the money.
I’m just really sad right now.
Here is the current appropriation committee for Missouri. If you live in Missouri and your representative is on that list, you should definitely contact them and let them know this is an important issue to you.
My own representative is not, though I already contacted his office anyway. I’m genuinely unsure of what I can do, but I feel like this is something I need to act on.
hello @dare-to-dm You said you said you don’t know what to do.
1, you’re already doing the right thing by contacting your state Rep, but you should also reach out to your State Senator as well (isn’t it wild how a majority of the Democrats are black and literally none of the Republicans are black?)
2, you can also submit a statement on a bill If it’s being debated here’s the state house FAQs and the senate this is very helpful and activists are always looking for regular people to be witnesses on bills
3, this is all petty revenge against libraries because the Missouri Association of School Librarians, and the Missouri Library Association, along with the ACLU sued the state over a book banning law. So if you have any extra cash you might drop the ACLU an extra dollar to help them fight book banning in the state
4, finally get involved, this part likely will be a years long effort often very frustrating, but really its the only want to make lasting change. Check out the Missouri Democratic Party. You might say “oh but we’re a red state!” yep this is totally true, but red states like Kentucky, Kansas, and Louisiana all currently have Democratic governors, and even shifting a handful of state House or Senate seats from red to blue can totally change the nature of state government and moderate the worst things. Look up your local party and go to the next meeting and the one after that, sign up to volunteer talking to voters is a big freaking deal, showing people that even in a Red State, a Red part of a Red State that yes there are not conservative people out living (and voting) their values.
Glad to see this blew up!
Some important context I’ve learned from the notes on this is that only a small portion of library funding comes from the state. Most of the funding is raised from local taxes. So like, I personally live in a blue island in Missouri. My local library will likely be mostly fine as the community is in the habit of showing up for local elections when it comes to funding community services.
That being said, smaller rural libraries are probably going to really be hurting. I’ll personally be doing a fundraiser for one of those I’ve worked with in the past. It might not be much, but it’s something. (To be clear, I’m not asking for anything here - I value my anonymity on tumblr too much! Just expressing my own personal commitment to this cause.)
Really, the bigger issue that this is part of a larger agenda to push censorship. Don’t lost hope, but also don’t lose sight of how far conservatives are willing to go.
Contacted my Republican state senator, and the reply stated that the Appropriations Chair wants to restore funding.
So, it’s still worth it to contact your senator even if they are a Republican. Even if they aren’t on the committee, they can show how people feel about it. Let them know you don’t support defunding libraries.
I also want to throw in volunteer for your library, donate, join the Friends group. It’s getting tough for them.
