Democracy in Action: Public Libraries at the Heart of Open Societies’
“A public library is the most democratic thing in the world” — Doris Lessing
Public libraries are a cornerstone of democratic societies. They exist to create equitable access to knowledge, champion civic participation, foster inclusion, and protect intellectual freedom. At a time when global trust in institutions is eroding and communities face increasing division, public libraries offer a quiet yet powerful counterforce — an anchor for democratic values in the everyday life of communities.
The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) 2024 Trend Report points to growing needs in our communities — more connection, trust, and a stronger sense of belonging. These are areas where public libraries can make a real difference. To do this well, it’s important that all library staff understand how our work supports a healthy democracy, recognise the role we play in local civic life, and feel confident talking about the everyday value we bring to our communities.
Understanding Democracy: A framework for public library action
According to the International IDEA Global State of Democracy Indices, a healthy democracy relies on several interrelated components. Public libraries and the services they provide strengthen each of these components and equip citizens with the skills and opportunities to actively participate in democracy at the local level.
1. Representation: Democracies thrive on informed representation, With the rise of disinformation, misinformation and, increasingly, limited access to trustworthy content, the electoral process at the bedrock of democracy is weakened. Public Librarians support and strengthen the representation component of democracy by:
· Equipping communities with information, digital and media literacy skills.
· Offering unbiased resources and curated collections to foster individual informed decision-making
Example: In Australia, the Australian Library and Information Association is working with key partners to develop a national strategy for media literacy for Australia. Forming the Australian Media Literacy Alliance with key like-minded organisations supports ALIA’s advocacy work for the role libraries in strengtehing democracy. In 2023 ALIA with researchers from the University of Canberra to conduct a national study of the media literacy needs and perceptions of libraries and information services (LIS) professionals.
“Public control over decision making is meaningless without equality in the exercise of that control” — International IDEA
2. Citizen Rights: Democracy must ensure that all people — regardless of their background- can exercise their rights. Public Libraries supports all citizens by providing:
. Provide free access to information and knowledge
. Create safe inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities, Indigenous peoples, migrants and other marginalized groups in the community.
. Uphold the freedom to read and exchange ideas without censorship.
Example: Public Libraries globally are protecting access to books in the face of increasing book bans and ensuring libraries are safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities. A powerful example of libraries commitment to protecting civil liberties and social equity.
3. Participation: Democracy is never a spectator sport. It relies on active civic engagement from its citizens and a clear understanding of how government works. The strength of interest groups, voter turnouts and the degree to which communities are engaged at all levels of government are all part of a strong democracy. Libraries can:
- Enable co-design processes, empowering communities to shape library services and build community skills in engaging in local decision making.
- Host community forums, debates and form citizen labs to stimulate respectful civil dialogue.
- Model inclusive decision-making practices in their own governance.
Example: The Let’s Be Neighbors: Connecting to Civic Engagement program by Salt Lake County Library in Utah is an innovative, virtual series aimed at empowering residents to actively engage in local civic life. Each session dives into topics relevant to public life — ranging from housing and environmental concerns to public safety and health — ensuring that open conversations regarding the issues affecting their community are held.
4. Rule of law: Central to the Rule of law category is the degree to which a country is free from corruption and the independence of the judiciary. Transparency in government plays a vital role in combatting corruption and maintaining the rule of law. But it is meaningless without a literate, information literate and digitally literate citizenry to read, navigate to, and access information. All core to the daily activities of libraries globally. Key activities of libraries include:
· Championing transparency and accountability in government
· Enhancing civic awareness through educational programs
· Supporting all literacies — from our early literacy programs to our media and digital literacy services — to develop a literate citizenry who are able to critically evaluate government and media narratives.
Example: In Queensland, Australia the State Library of Queensland supports Public Libraries to deliver First 5 Forever programs in local communities. A suite of digital and print ready resources are available for public libraries to help promote First 5 Forever Early Years Story in libraries, on social media, on their website and at First 5 Forever events in the community. This strengthens the skills, resources and promotes the importance of early literacy programs in libraries throughout the State.
“I understand democracy as something that gives the weak the same chance as the strong”
-Mahatma Gandhi
