Whereas library staff are cornerstones of their communities in the United States, providing visitors with access to books and media, delivering high-quality programming to visitors of all ages, ensuring equitable internet access for all, and linking people to crucial information about accessing social services; Whereas libraries are an economic powerhouse in their communities, providing resources to small business owners, job seekers, and individuals learning new skills; Whereas, in recent years, library staff have been called on to address the fallout from difficult public crises in the United States, taking on roles that exceed the traditional role of providing a space for, and access to, educational and cultural enrichment; Whereas library staff provide lifesaving care to members of their communities who are suffering the effects of the ongoing and tragic opioid epidemic in the United States, including being called on to administer medication to treat overdoses; Whereas libraries are a safe haven for individuals and families who are unhoused, and library workers provide the supportive community environment and resources needed by unhoused individuals and families; Whereas libraries are often the only source of internet for underserved communities; Whereas library staff maintained public access to essential library services and were relied on to distribute personal protective equipment and provide testing to the public during the worst days of the COVID–19 pandemic; Whereas libraries have met an expanded and intensified demand for community, public health, and safety net services, often while contending with severe funding cuts, creating unsustainable and frequently unsafe working conditions for library staff; Whereas the health and survival of democracy in the United States requires that everyone be able to exercise rights to information and services, and it is especially important for young people to have the opportunity to learn, encounter, and debate all manner of ideas, including controversial ones