Pillars of American communities: why libraries need our advocacy and support

A 2025 study published in The Journal of Academic Librarianship found that when undergraduate students visit their library, their GPA is demonstrably higher than their peers who do not. Studies from the University of Minnesota have found that usage of library spaces and resources is associated with higher graduation and retention rates in college.

At CSB+SJU, students have two separate libraries and countless resources available to them. If your computer is damaged, you can borrow a temporary one to keep up with course deadlines. If you’re looking for the next “Hunger Games” book but don’t want to make a trip to the bookstore, you can request it through the libraries for free.

Beyond the physical materials our campus libraries provide, there are digital resources like databases that prop up undergraduate and faculty research capabilities, in addition to supporting students with materials they need for classes. Unique opportunities that students have at SJU include the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML) and the St. John’s Bible Gallery. HMML is a nonprofit organization based in Alcuin Library at SJU that provides free access to manuscript collections across the globe, focusing on preserving manuscripts in regions threatened by political instability and war, among other threats. The St. John’s Bible Gallery, also located in Alcuin, displays 28 original folios of the St. John’s Bible, the first fully hand-written and hand-illuminated Bible to be commissioned by a Benedictine abbey since the invention of the printing press.

Organizations like The Study, Experience and Professional Development (XPD) and the Center for Global Education operate out of library spaces to provide students with academic, professional and study abroad support. The Clemens Library Makerspace, Kling Media lab and audio and visual recording studios at SJU and Creative Lab at CSB provide areas for students to engage in creative ventures with support from industry professionals. This includes everything from 3D printing projects for physics classes to the ability to professionally record music albums or podcasts. Regular programming in the libraries also supports social interaction on a daily basis, and librarians often make appearances in classes to offer support on papers and projects.

An article in this week’s edition of The Record covers some issues the CSB+SJU libraries are currently navigating, which have trickled down from federal orders and state budget complications. Interlibrary Loan (ILL), which has the potential to be impacted by the executive order that seeks to close the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is particularly critical to students, as it allows them to receive items they need for academic or personal interests within days. Libraries across the country benefit from the resources our libraries send through ILL, which maintains cooperative information sharing on a national scale. Not increasing state library budgets to adjust for inflation results in cuts to grants that our libraries rely on to maintain comprehensive budgets that get community members what they need and provide space for innovative library services.

Despite these negative impacts they are currently facing, CSB+SJU libraries do not rely as much on federal funding compared to other libraries across the nation, who have the most to lose when federal and state budget cuts come down the pipeline. Many libraries are funded through city and county taxes, but last year, the IMLS awarded $266.7 million in grants to support library operations. Without this money, many libraries will be forced to limit operations or slow acquisitions to compensate for the cost.

Public libraries have a significant impact on lifelong literacy, creating an informed electorate, professional development, community building and countless other positive outcomes. The American Library Association (ALA) noted that libraries are an increasingly important resource and safe space for poor and homeless individuals, as well as children facing domestic issues. One article published in the Journal of Community Health argues that public libraries should be considered part of the public health system because of their role in advocating for healthcare access and information, combating addiction, reducing stress and more.

Libraries go beyond just books. They have the power to comprehensively address community needs and create equitable access to resources that people in the United States may otherwise go without — especially considering the potential looming recession and its economic consequences. However, in order for libraries to succeed in their missions, they need funding and strong support when faced with challenges like the one the federal government currently poses in eliminating the largest organization that supports them.

The current ALA lawsuit to block the closure of the IMLS may help restore some of the grants that these libraries sorely need, but no matter the outcome, library funding can and should be made a priority for the betterment of American communities. Advocating for libraries by calling state and federal legislators can help put pressure on representatives to fulfill this goal.

Closer to home, the CSB+SJU Student Library and Archives Advisory Board brings together staff and students to get feedback on community needs on campus. This initiative, which was created last year, allows students to have an active voice in getting what they need and want out of library services. Students can present feedback to staff members or inquire about applying to join this board if they want to influence decision-making processes.

Our campus libraries, like all other libraries across the country, help community members succeed academically and support them in ways that go beyond books and schoolwork. When provided with what they need to operate at their full capacity and strive for improvement and innovation, public libraries are a positive force in their communities. We, the public, are the ones who suffer when libraries do not receive unequivocal support and adequate funding — so consider what we stand to lose without them.