How EveryLibrary Helped Right to Read North Dakota Defeat SB 2307

After months of organizing, advocacy, and coalition-building in North Dakota, Senate Bill 2307 has finally been defeated.

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Governor Armstrong’s veto of this unconstitutional and unnecessary library censorship bill was upheld by the Senate on Friday, ending a campaign that put libraries, educators, and free expression in the crosshairs.

At EveryLibrary, we’re proud to have supported Right to Read North Dakota (RTRND) throughout this entire legislative fight while also joining the North Dakota Library Association’s campaign to encourage the veto.

From the very beginning to this important win, this campaign is a powerful example of how dedicated local advocates, supported by the right tools and guidance, can stand up to powerful forces and win.

Help us continue to fight for libraries by starting a $1, $3, or $5 monthly donation today!

Building a Movement from the Ground Up

As a grassroots organization, Right to Read North Dakota was very talented and effective. But it didn’t exist before this legislative session. As library, free expression, and civil society stakeholders looked back at the lessons of the 2024 session, the idea for a statewide campaign began to gain traction. That’s where EveryLibrary came in. Because of how we are organized across both the 501(c)4 political and within the 501(c)3 public policy spaces, we were able to help the leaders of  Right to Read North Dakota get organized and engaged quickly and successfully. We made this effort possible by:

• Launching their online campaign platform and identity quickly, with a clear, values-based message.
  
  
• Building out the digital infrastructure, including action centers, letter-to-the-editor generators, email lists, and social media templates to amplify their local message.
  
  
• Co-creating their policy messaging and media strategy, including statements, press releases, and testimony that connected constitutional rights, local control, and fiscal responsibility to the issues.

This is the work EveryLibrary does every day: empowering people to advocate for their libraries with confidence, skill, and impact.

We can't do this work without people like you.
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Our Unique Role in the Library Sector

EveryLibrary is the only library organization in the country that provides this kind of hands-on, strategic, and tactical support to grassroots library groups. We don’t just “cheerlead” from the sidelines, we staff the problem. 

As Randi Monley, co-chair, said, “No other national library organization does this kind of frontline, field-building work. They listened to what our agenda was, collaborated with us on building the tools, and helped us at a moment’s notice to pivot the campaign. None can match the speed, flexibility, or depth of EveryLibrary’s support.”

This was a well-executed, authentic, and effective multi-channel advocacy campaign. It started with a handful of concerned North Dakotans who were ready to act but didn’t yet have the structure or support to do so. 

Thank You to Our Donors

Right to Read North Dakota’s success is their own. But their ability to organize quickly, communicate effectively, and move the needle was made possible because of EveryLibrary’s engagement. And that is only because of our donors.

If you’re one of those donors, thank you. You helped stop SB 2307. You stood up for librarians, educators, and the freedom to read. And you made sure a new generation of library advocates had everything they needed to succeed.

If you believe in building real capacity for library advocacy, not just statements and symbolism, please consider becoming a monthly donor.

Together, we can help the good folks at Right to Read North Dakota next time - and also help the next statewide grassroots group that needs it, too.