Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
AGENCY TESTIMONY
National challenges to libraries and democratic values
0:28:55
·
134 sec
Marx addresses the broader national context of challenges facing libraries and the democratic values they represent.
- Mention of gutting of federal agencies supporting libraries and the arts (IMLS, NEH, NEA)
- Loss of federal grants due to unacceptable attached conditions
- Reference to the firing of the Librarian of Congress
- Discussion of book banning efforts around the country
- Framing of these challenges as attacks on democratic values and principles of access to knowledge and free expression
- Emphasis on libraries as essential democratic institutions resisting various societal challenges
Anthony "Tony" Marx
0:28:55
The values that make up the foundation of what public libraries are are being purposefully challenged at the highest level of this country at this point.
0:29:07
We have seen the gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.
0:29:17
We have lost our grants from those agencies, and we have reviewed and decided not to pursue or accept additional federal funds because of the strings that are attached that we simply cannot live with.
0:29:32
We've seen the librarian of congress, our amazing colleague Carla Hayden, fired.
0:29:39
We've seen books banned around the country.
0:29:43
The message from the federal and other local governments is clear.
0:29:48
These are attacks on the values of democracy and the principles of access to knowledge and free expression that are absolutely singular singular to what it means to be in and of America.
0:30:04
The libraries continue here and elsewhere in this country to be the singular, essential, truly democratic institutions.
0:30:14
And this is the moment when we need to bring the full power and resources of all public libraries to bear for all people.
0:30:24
Let me be as clear as I can.
0:30:27
We live in very complicated times, very challenging times.
0:30:33
We've seen we're seeing books banned.
0:30:36
We resist.
0:30:38
We've see we're seeing misinformation everywhere and distrust everywhere.
0:30:46
We resist.
0:30:48
We are seeing reading declining of thoughtfulness in terms of, you know, compared to what social media and the distractions are providing.
0:30:58
We know that the market cannot and is not providing the kinds of results that all of us, especially our children, deserve.
0:31:08
So we resist.