What is Libraries for Democracy?
Libraries For Democracy (LFD) is a 501(C)3 non-profit that intends to help Americans become better-informed, more active citizens who will rescue American democracy from the grip of the powerful special interests that are keeping government from operating
for the public good.
How will LFD accomplish its mission?
LFD will aggregate the best websites and information tools on politics, government, and social issues, and organize these resources in an easy-to-understand LFD website. Then we will offer a free link to the LFD website to any public or academic library
willing to publicize and present programs around LFD resources. This will make LFD information available to thousands of people every day. They will use LFD information to become better informed and more effective citizens. Any person can also access LFD free
from any Internet computer.
Why is LFD needed?
Currently there is no single website people can use and trust to get factual, non-partisan information about politics and social issues. However, there are many small, independent, unbiased websites that provide excellent, factual information and tools for
citizens that could make a powerful difference if they were more widely known and used. LFD will gather these websites as links from the LFD website and will help the public learn about and use these websites effectively. Moreover, by placing LFD on hundreds
of library websites and working with libraries to produce programs for effective citizenship, LFD will be highly visible to thousands of people each day.
Why should people trust LFD to provide factual, non-partisan information?
LFD was created by and will be operated by librarians. Librarians are highly trusted by the public to make sure the information they provide is factual and is presented in a non-partisan way. That has always been the mission and professional obligation of
certified librarians.
By the way, LFD was the recipient this year of the first annual Taylor Willingham Award for Public Issues Programming, presented by the National Coalition for Dialog & Deliberation.
But why do citizens need to become better informed and more active?
American government is more polarized and disfunctional now than it has ever been. Elected officials spend most of their time raising money for campaigns rather than studying issues and passing legislation. Powerful special interests are able to contribute
large amounts to political campaigns in order to influence legislation. This distorts democracy and prevents government from working for the public good. But average citizens can still make government work for them if they have good information and tools to
make their opinions known and their votes felt. LFD will give them the best information and tools to help them take back democracy and make it work for the public good.
Why does LFD need to raise money?
LFD does not take money from advertisers or political interests. LFD relies entirely on small donations from its users. The current LFD website:
www.LibrariesForDemocracy.info is available to access, but it is not active because it is too expensive and too difficult to maintain without constant technical assistance. This campaign seeks to raise $5,000 to build a new LFD website that will be easy
to use and maintain. The money will also be used to market LFD to libraries and the public. Once the new website is functional, it can continue to raise money thru user donations. LFD will always be operated by volunteer librarians dedicated to providing the
public with the best information possible.
How can I find out more about LFD and this campaign?
Please contact Mike Baldwin at [email protected] if you have questions or comments about LFD or this campaign. Mr. Baldwin is the founder of LFD and is both a librarian and a former professor of American Government.
