Look to libraries to support their communities this election season. And also, every day.
As the American Library Association states, “as institutions that provide access to information, resources, programs, and public spaces for all members of a community, libraries are a cornerstone for civic engagement and more important than ever.”
Libraries offer dedicated Voting pages on their websites to help you find the information you need to cast your ballot, from registering to vote, researching your ballot, remember important deadlines (check and confirm your registration now; this post can wait!), and find your polling place. In fact, your local library may be your polling place! Libraries literally help voters to make their voices heard at the polls.
Libraries make curated displays of books about civics, voting, history, raising your voice, and caring for our communities for all ages. Whatever you’re curious about or want to know more in order to become a more informed and prepared voter, your library has something for you! You can check out my library’s book list here.
Libraries engage young people and their caregivers in experiences about the importance and impact of voting. As Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Engagement 2022 report states, “Social connections and a sense of belonging are foundational to civic engagement… It is never too early to start building civic responsibility: Talk in children’s and teen programs about voting as one of the tools people use to improve our communities.”
As a member of the Association for Library Service to Children’s Quicklists Committee, I recommended titles for their "Inspiring Future Voters: A Booklist for Young Readers,” produced in collaboration with Booklist. Featuring over 2 dozen titles for age groups birth through young adult, this list helps introduce the topics of elections, civic participation, and democracy.
There are so many wonderful engaging and informative children’s books in our libraries that offer insights that center children’s experiences and questions about our world - and ways they can make a difference.
Throughout the years, I’ve hosted a variety of activities with young people to engage them in local and national elections and focus on the power of their voices. From collaborations with our local township and local community group to create and send original postcards, creating signs to hang around the library, to mock elections about topics kids care about like the names of our library mascots, their favorite snacks or mythological creatures, there are so many ways to make raising their voice relevant to kids. (Check out these previous posts from 2020, 2021, and beyond for inspiration. I also had the chance to create a “My Library Is-” post for RAILS that collects lots of these ideas.) (You can even access and make a copy of my Dragons/Unicorns voting sign here. Just make sure to edit it so you include your library/community’s voting resources.)
Drive with Kitty Cuteness to the Polls!
- A poster made by K. for the March 2020 primaries
These kinds of civics experiences have huge impacts. But you don’t have to take my word for it.
Research on young voters from Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Engagement shows that weaving civic engagement throughout childhood experiences increases participation in voting. Recently, the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute found that civic engagement has both a trickle down and trickle up effect. Parents who vote tend to raise children who vote, but interestingly, civic engagement programs for children have been found to result in an increased level of parent voter participation. Think about the impact that every vote has, especially during local elections for library board, school board, and local government. We know voter turnout is low during these elections - so children may help bring their caregivers to the polls.
If you can, take your children with you to vote. They’ll get their own “future voter” stickers! These experiences can become foundational memories, associating voting with a special experience with their caregiver.
Take a couple minutes to check out these Get out the Vote videos that I created with the postcards the kids made - they’re sure to inspire you to, as K. said, “drive with kitty cuteness to the polls!” Early voting is starting now, so let’s go!
Libraries collaborate with trusted community partners to facilitate important conversations and build civic engagement. My library is hosting, “I Hate Politics: How to Explain to Kids Why Civic Engagement Matters” on Friday, October 18 from 4:30-5:30pm. This program is part of Let’s Learn Together, an initiative that takes an in-depth look at specific topics relevant to our society.
How do we foster a respectful approach to talking to kids about politics? How do we help our kids become active, caring community members? Wilmette Public Library, in collaboration with D39 PTAs/PTOs, invites parents and caregivers to connect through this interactive discussion on civic engagement. Learn how local systems work, and how you and your family can make a difference in your community. Teens are welcome to join the discussion. Also, there will be snacks. Children 4 and older can enjoy a civics themed Storytime and craft in the Youth Program Room while adults attend the program. Offering these simultaneous programs has been instrumental to helping caregivers attend our Let’s Learn Together programs.
Your local library will be hosting similar programs to help engage and inform their community. And if they haven’t yet, you can talk to them to suggest they create them. Civic engagement is every day, all day, at our libraries.
Libraries are the heart of our communities.
So think of libraries and library workers when you’re at the ballot box this fall - and beyond.
Here are even more resources to support civic engagement in your community!