91´«Ã½

91´«Ã½ asks readers, voters to pledge participation in 2024 elections on Take Action for Libraries Day

Chicago – Today the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) kicks off its Reader. Voter. Ready. campaign, calling on advocates to sign a pledge to be registered, informed and ready to vote in all local, state and federal elections in 2024. 

91´«Ã½ President Emily Drabinski said, “Libraries have a long history of providing information and services that help voters participate in our democracy. Libraries aren’t just a great place for reading – they’re also a great place to get ready to vote.”

In a 2022 survey (PDF) conducted by the Public Library Association, 68% of public libraries reported offering voting related services that included registration, ballot drop-off or serving as a polling place. Libraries also host an array of activities, such as candidate debates and helping students learn about the American system of government.

The primary goals of the 91´«Ã½ ’s Reader. Voter. Ready. campaign are:

• to ensure that some 370,000 library workers in America are registered, informed and ready to vote for federal, state and local elections in 2024 and beyond, and
• to equip libraries nationwide to ensure the same for their communities.

The Reader. Voter. Ready. resources released today include

• the 2024 voter engagement guide (PDF) for libraries
• a tip sheet (PDF) to share with community leaders and partners, highlighting the ways libraries support voter participation and education
• a one-pager, Voters Count on Libraries: The Numbers (PDF), illustrating libraries as centers of civic lift and patron engagement with library services

Leading up to the November 5 elections, 91´«Ã½ is collaborating with partners to provide nonpartisan resources and learning opportunities for librarians, including webinars, in-person workshops, fact sheets, ideas for civic engagement programming and one-pagers for select audiences. Partners include the League of Women Voters, National Voter Registration Day (September 17), Nonprofit Vote and Democracy Class.