During National Library Week and National Library Workers Day, we’re recognizing the people who keep libraries running and accessible to their communities.

To librarians, archivists, and library workers, thank you for the care and intention you bring to your work. You help shape how knowledge is understood and shared across generations, and your work matters in ways that extend far beyond any single visit or interaction.

Hip Hop Impresario Sir Mix a Lot created a 1990 PSA for the American Library Association where he urged people to go to libraries and read books, featuring the California Raisins.

"Read about stars and cars/play electric guitars/the cops that work hard/patrolling the boulevard/the Heavyweight Champ and his craziest bouts/Books/Check em out."

"HB 777 not only would fine libraries and librarians, but it would possibly require hard labor by those found guilty. Read that again: librarians would be sentenced to hard labor for daring to join their largest professional organization.

The bill would also potentially kill one of the largest graduate school programs in the state of Louisiana, Louisiana State University’s Masters of Library and Information Science program. Like all Master of Library and Information Science programs, it is accredited by the ALA and goes through a rigorous process to ensure that the curriculum is up-to-date and aligned with best practices in libraries.

Even if the bill is limited “only” to the use of tax money to support membership or attendance/enrollment in ALA-sponsored professional development, take a moment to look into whether or not police, fire, or other public entities are subject to similar legislation in Louisiana or elsewhere. You probably know the answer–and you probably won’t be surprised that one of the few institutional benefits offered to library workers is such membership.

If you haven’t been paying attention until now or you’ve thought these fears when laid out over the last several years were hyperbole and this is your wakeup call, there’s no time like the present to get to work advocating on behalf of your library. If you live in Louisiana, contact your representatives as soon as possible (here’s a very easy way to do that!). You can also reach out to Kellee Dickerson by phone at (225) 380-4232 and email [email protected].

Then, reach out to your own libraries and offer your support, either by showing up at board meetings and/or running for those board positions when vacancies occur. Go borrow books from the library and get your writing hands going with letters to your local papers.

EveryLibrary also has a petition you can sign related to HB777."