[Libs-Or] President Obama on library workers and the freedom to read

[Stephanie Chase]

Hello colleagues!

Many of you have probably seen President Obama's letter to libraries and
library workers all over your social media feeds today, but just in case,
let me share this message ALA President Emily Drabinski shared with ALA
Council today:

Dear ALA Colleagues,



President Barack Obama published an open letter
<https://barackobama.medium.com/thank-you-to-americas-librarians-for-protecting-our-freedom-to-read-80ce373608b3>
to
librarians this morning, expressing his support for libraries and library
workers amidst rising book challenges and subsequent attacks on those
defending the right to read. His letter was shared online and across his
social media pages (in addition to the social media accounts for Michelle
Obama and the Obama Foundation), with a note directing followers to the
Unite Against Book Bans website and encouraging support for the campaign.



See links to the social posts below.



*President Obama:*

Instagram
<https://www.instagram.com/p/CuzKkVWuyQV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==>

Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/barackobama>

Twitter <https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1680927869021696005?s=20>



*The Obama Foundation:*

Instagram
<https://www.instagram.com/p/CuzPxosOUl1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==>

Twitter
<https://twitter.com/ObamaFoundation/status/1680936603374563329?s=20>



To ensure that the letter would reach its intended recipients, President
Obama's team requested that we share the letter with the ALA community.
You'll notice that the letter has been amplified across ALA's social media
pages and shared via *American Libraries*: Open Letter from Former
President Obama Supports Librarians | American Libraries Magazine
<https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/open-letter-from-former-president-obama-supports-librarians/>



Also, ALA contributed to this exclusive story in the Washington Post
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/07/17/obama-banned-books-tiktok-library>
this
morning, which highlights the recent increase in book bans/challenges and
President Obama's efforts on social media (particularly, TikTok and
Instagram) to bring awareness to the issue in hopes of rallying support for
libraries and library workers.


If you haven't yet added your name to the United Against Book Bans site, I
encourage you all to take a minute and do so!

Stephanie Chase
Executive Director, Libraries of Eastern Oregon
Founding Principal, Constructive Disruption
ALA Executive Board, 2023-2026
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