Recommendations

The next few years will be critical for the viability and transformation of public libraries. Drops in state revenue have led to multimillion dollar deficits in budgets around the country, and the May 2020 ALA survey of library plans showed that the majority of libraries anticipated reducing or eliminating staff positions and cutting programs. Meanwhile, the pandemic has laid bare the extent of disparities in the U.S. by income level, by race and ethnicity, and by one’s ability to get high-speed internet at home. These disparities have emerged both from the legacy of systems within the library world that did not welcome people of color and from systems in communities (including educational institutions and technology companies) that have their own legacies of racism and that have not prioritized access to the internet and to learning opportunities for all.

The possibilities of transformation are everywhere—if investments can be made to make them real. Most Americans have positive feelings about their public libraries. Those who have used a library’s app or website feel generally positive about the online resources available to them. Libraries are a key part of building a more equitable ecosystem of learning across communities, providing access to knowledge, resources, and training that may not be otherwise accessible to people with lower incomes. Libraries also help bring internet access and devices to more people across their communities by providing Wi-Fi zones, devices for checkout, and hotspots to borrow for home internet use.

To build a brighter future for public libraries and for the people they serve who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, particularly low-income households and community members of color, we offer eight recommendations for policymakers and leaders across library and education communities.

For policymakers:

• Invest in efforts by libraries and schools to bring internet access, online resources, and other tools to underserved households and communities.
  • Expand the E-Rate Program so that libraries and schools can get discounts on the technology services that patrons and students need to get online from home.
  • Support schools, libraries, and community-based organizations in distributing devices such as tablets, laptops, and hotspots.
• Improve broadband access to low-income households.
  • Make the new $50-per-month Emergency Broadband Benefit permanent and integrate it into the Lifeline program.
  • Require internet service providers to be more transparent about internet costs and hidden fees.
  • Enable municipalities to provide internet service.
• Encourage collaboration by developing grant programs and other incentives for community-based organizations, libraries, and schools to work together in raising awareness and jointly delivering library services.
• Provide funding for the expansion of tech-support programs such as Digital Navigators and other programs that enable on-demand, one-on-one troubleshooting, mentorship, and guidance.
• Provide funding for needs assessments and other research to take stock of how public libraries are used within communities that are marginalized or underserved.

For libraries:

• Increase outreach and communications efforts to make more residents aware of offerings both online and off.
  • Target outreach so that low-income households; Black, Hispanic, and Asian households; and patrons whose first language is not English are welcomed and connected to the library.
  • Experiment with mobile offerings that bring the library to underserved communities.
  • Establish Digital Navigator programs and similar mentoring initiatives that help patrons build technological fluency, digital literacy, and media literacy skills.

For educators and leaders of community-based organizations:

• Develop deeper partnerships with libraries to build awareness of resources for clients and students.
• Include library leaders in strategic planning for programs and services.