My local library was my favorite place as a kid. I would climb the stairs to the second floor children’s section, making a beeline for The Boxcar Children books that were shelved in a model boxcar. I would check out audiobook CDs to listen to while I fell asleep. I read every Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Magic Tree House book the library had. Now at Tufts, Tisch Library, Boston Public Library and Somerville Library have all been mainstays of my college career, where I check out books for both research and leisure reading. But libraries serve many more purposes than just having books to be checked out. For example, the Boston Public Library provides free Wi-Fi to patrons and a safe space for kids. The library itself is a community space, with staff dedicated to knowledge dissemination and creating a safe and welcoming environment that anyone can depend on. However, right now, libraries are under attack by President Donald Trump and his administration.
For years, I’ve been hearing about how Republicans have been trying to ban books related to diversity and difference. In particular, drag queen story hours hosted by libraries have been a high-profile target of Republican lawmakers, a talking point that they use to spread anti-trans rhetoric under the guise of “protecting children.” These attacks have extended to the librarians themselves, and many have even spoken out about death threats they’ve received.
In March, Trump signed an executive order dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services, denying many libraries of vital federal funding that they rely on to keep the doors open.
From the second I read about this executive order, I’ve been in a state of rage, firstly because I believe the majority of America doesn’t know how libraries work. The job of a librarian is not to indoctrinate children or to just shelve books according to the Dewey Decimal system — librarians also serve as extensions of social workers, often assisting those facing homelessness and mental health issues.
But secondly, and most importantly, the attack on libraries and librarians reflects a larger attack on education. Trump has made a promise to dismantle the Department of Education, starting with an executive order in March. While he has said that his only goal is to bring educational choices back to the states, what has already begun is a power grab, deciding what can and cannot be taught. Last week, Trump threatened to withhold federal grants to public schools that do not get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Libraries are by nature an extension of education programs, with some offering adult courses to help people get degrees. Librarians themselves are also symbols of knowledge. They must have an in-depth understanding of information recording, literacy techniques and strategies to effectively communicate knowledge to people. The field requires so much specialization that most librarians have to get a Masters of Library Sciences before entering the profession. By defunding libraries, Trump is thus further limiting access to education and knowledge in general.
Attacking education is a classic tactic of authoritarian governments, as education fosters diversified public opinions. If people are uneducated, or are only educated in ways the government wants, critical examinations that challenge government interests disappear. The more educated a person is, the better they can think, and the more likely they are to criticize institutions. Education, then, is an imminent danger to authoritarian regimes. Librarians, as the ultimate information-holders, are thus a huge liability for governments wishing to limit access to knowledge.
Today, the United States has played right into authoritarian strategies. By letting the librarian profession become dangerous and undesirable, Trump has made it easier to ban books, watch literacy rates decline and push libraries to their functional dismemberment. Yet all the American people have done is sit at home, not even visiting their library to witness the decay.
I’m tired of shouting into the void about Trump’s education agenda. I’m tired of making blatant comparisons to the plots of “1984” and “Fahrenheit 451.” I’m tired of referencing the massive book burnings conducted by Nazis, and I’m tired of speaking about the declining literacy rate in the United States. It truly feels as though people are checked out of the conversation. But I am more scared of what happens when I stop shouting.
The only way to combat authoritarianism is by committing wholly to education. I beg you, reader, keep learning, keep reading and keep advocating for library funding. Support your local library and never stop your educational journey.
