Earlier this month, I sat down with a group of elementary school students to talk about something most people rarely think about: library budget cuts. I wasn’t sure what to expect, whether they’d understand what was happening to their libraries or how they’d respond.
What started as a small interview project to support library funding advocacy quickly became something more meaningful. These weren’t just quick chats about favorite books—they were reminders of how deeply public libraries shape kids’ lives.
To make the conversations feel comfortable, I began with light questions. We talked about books they loved: Harry Potter, Dog Man, Last Kids on Earth, Goosebumps, The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson. Then we moved into what libraries meant to them. Many mentioned using their local branch on a weekly basis. One student said, “I like libraries because they give books to people who don’t have money to pay.” Another added, “It gives people a chance to learn even if they can’t go to school.” Over and over, I heard the same theme: libraries are about access, opportunity, and belonging.
Next, I asked how they would feel if their library had to close, cut hours, or stop programs. Words like “sad,” “distraught,” and “like I’m losing a part of myself” came up again and again with several students saying they’d miss their librarians most of all.
Then I asked what I now realize was the most important question: If you could tell adults why libraries are important, what would you say?
One fifth grader paused, looked at me, and said: “Libraries make kids into leaders.”
That stopped me. These kids may not understand city budgets or legislative processes, but they understand what’s at stake. They notice when programs vanish, when new books stop showing up, and when the building can’t stay open for as long anymore. They realize, perhaps better than some adults, that libraries aren’t just buildings, they’re spaces where they feel safe to learn and be creative.
As adults debate funding and policy, these kids are watching. They may not be in the room, but they’re absolutely affected by the decisions being made. And they’re asking the question we should all be asking: “Why can’t the library just stay open?”
The decisions made today affect the generations of tomorrow. If we listen closely enough to their words, we can work to build a future where no child has to wonder whether their library will still be there tomorrow and ensure that libraries remain spaces to “make kids into leaders.”