About

About This Resource

A simple "Libraries Resist" resource list was first shared by Que(e)ry Librarians on January 29, 2017 as part of an ongoing series of resource lists begun in 2012. Due to widespread interest, the list was crowdsourced, then developed into a separate site and social media presence (@LibrariesResist), and eventually this site, which has since been maintained by a small group of volunteer contributors, some of whom are anonymous. Though less active in recent years, the site is still being maintained as of 2025.

The resources we've selected seek to highlight both examples of some of us already doing this important work, and tools to help others of us do better. This resource is available for everyone, but is targeted at information workers (librarians, archivists, records managers, curators, etc.), primarily those in the United States. Canadian? Check out this great resource from Allana Mayer: Canadian libraries in the 45th US presidency: An actionable guide (2017).

Catch up with us on Bluesky (our Facebook and Twitter accounts are no longer active). Use our Feedback form or email us if you want to join our team, contribute resources, or if you notice any errors, misattributions, dead links, or other problems with the site.

Why #LibrariesResist?

We consider "#LibrariesResist" to be an an aspiration or a call to action, rather than a declarative statement of fact about what libraries do or do not do. Though we have organized our resources and conversations around this hashtag, taking inspiration from similar catchy hashtags arising from other communities, we know it is an imperfect label (and that hashtag activism is an imperfect strategy). There is no single, easy narrative about libraries, nor can we offer a single definition or recipe for "resistance."

First, libraries and library workers are not—and cannot be—politically neutral, though some may insist otherwise. Claims to neutrality all too often provide an excuse for ignoring injustices, or for maintaining existing power structures, in our institutions and communities. At the same time, neither are libraries inherently progressive or radical institutions, nor are library workers superheroes. Indeed, libraries and library workers can, and do, cause and perpetuate both individual and systemic harms—sometimes despite good intentions, and sometimes by design. We also can, and do, work to address or oppose those harms—sometimes despite lack of resources, training, or support, or even in the face of active opposition or hostility in our institutional contexts. 

#LibrariesResist came to being in the aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, driven largely by library workers propelled to greater levels of political engagement on behalf of the communities they serve and belong to, who were made more vulnerable by the policies, rhetoric, and crises of that moment. Others mobilized in defense of causes or values that seemed to be under increased threat, such as free speech, privacy, or scientific inquiry. But many of these concerns and threats were decidedly not new in 2016. Indeed, many other library workers had already been doing serious work to support marginalized communities or embattled ideals well before then, only to find their work newly politicized or re-characterized as "resistance." Meanwhile, these concerns did not magically go away with the change of presidential administration in 2021, though many efforts (including our own), sadly lost a lot of their momentum during those years. Among other things, coordinated attempts to ban books, defund libraries, destroy public records and institutions, and even criminalize librarians, only increased during the 46th presidential administration. And with the 2024 presidential election mirroring that of 2016, we are seeing these efforts further intensifying. In the years ahead, there will surely be plenty more to resist. Our awareness continues to shift and our strategies evolve in the face of new and persisting challenges and crises: a global pandemic; a genocide; rising colonial, anti-immigrant and anti-trans rhetoric; violent repression of protest movements (to name a few). 

So, #LibrariesResist is not seeking to reinvent the wheel, but to be an entry point or bridge between new or intermittent activists and long-established efforts. By “signal boosting” those existing efforts and resources, we hope to encourage others to support or join them. In turn, we believe that the example set by those who came before, can provide inspiration, precedent, and solidarity for library workers who may need more support or leverage within their institutions to try their own new program, implement a new policy, or speak up for change.

We also acknowledge that just as there are many things to be resisted, there are many ways to resist, which taken on their own may seem insufficient or even incompatible with each other. Of course in isolation, writing a resource list, or changing a subject heading, or hanging a poster won’t "save the world." But that doesn't mean these individual efforts are futile. No one of us has all the answers alone, so all the more reason to come together. Where we have experience and passion, we can share it; where we don't, we can step back, listen, and learn. Drawing on our own diverse skills and resources, and finding affinity with other ongoing efforts outside of libraries, individual efforts like these can contribute to a more coherent whole that reflects and reinforces our broader values, and can contribute greater momentum to bigger, systemic changes. We hope it's also an opportunity to persuade those who aren't yet on the same page.

We believe there is always room for growth and improvement, and we also seek to hold our institutions, organizations, publications, and leaders accountable to their staff, patrons, members, and declared missions. This is a tall order, but at the least, we believe it is often possible to both celebrate them when they succeed, and to urge them to do better where they have failed. It's not on us as individuals to solve these collective problems alone. Instead, working together and advocating for ourselves and our work, we can reshape those institutions and organizations to better reflect our values and to support us in turn. Or where that fails, we can invest that effort into building something new. Especially in these precarious times, taking care of ourselves and each other, and organizing for safe and stable working conditions, are preconditions to accomplishing any of these aspirations as library workers.

We also continue to reflect on the history of our professions, and on our own ongoing work and purpose, and are committed to learning, challenging ourselves and each other, and growing together with our community. We intend to continue updating this site in response to emerging concerns, new resources, and lessons learned, and invite your participation in this process.

Press and Publicity

• Akunna Eneh. "Trump takes aim at libraries," Socialist Worker, April 13, 2017

• Linda Jacobson. "Librarians Mobilize for Equity Under the Trump Administration," School Library Journal, March 30, 2017.

• Steph Auteri. "Librarians Provide the Tools for Readers to Rise Up," BookRiot, March 7 2017.

• Faith Brautigam. "The #LibrariesResist Movement," Public Libraries Online, February 28, 2017.

• Lisa Peet. "Librarians Mobilize Resources, Information, and Solidarity in Response to New Administration," Library Journal, February 22, 2017.

• Colin Daileda. "Libraries are fighting back hard against Trump's America," Mashable, February 21, 2017.

• Danuta Kean. "US libraries join struggle to resist the Trump administration," Guardian, February 21, 2017.

• Nadia Prupis. "'Love That Doesn't Risk Isn't Love': Amid Immigration Chaos, Sanctuaries Flourish," Common Dreams, February 21, 2017.

• Julia Fleischaker. "Librarians across the Country Protest, Resist, and Persist." Melville House Books, February 21, 2017. (archived via Wayback Machine)

• Arianna Rebolini. "'Not Sitting Quietly Anymore': How Librarians Are Fighting Trump," Vice, February 20, 2017.

• Amanda Hoover. "The fight against fake news is putting librarians on the front line – and they say they’re ready," Christian Science Monitor, February 15, 2017.

• Elizabeth Flock. "Why these librarians are protesting Trump’s executive orders," PBS, February 13, 2017.

• "Libraries Resist," 5 Min Librarian, February 10, 2017.

Disclaimer

These resources are compiled for informational purposes and do not constitute an endorsement or an approval of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporations, organizations, or individuals represented. No compensation was received in exchange for linking or citing. We prioritize free, open access resources and will attempt to indicate if a resource requires payment or subscriptions.

The compilers are not responsible for the accuracy, currency, legality, content, or privacy practices of the external sites or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content and practices.