We recently wrote about the alarming trend of extremists attacking public libraries, As we close out National Library Week, we wanted to reflect on the foundations of this precious resource and call upon you to join us in protecting it from censorship and under-funding.
On April 24, 1800, President John Adams signed a law allocating $5,000 to purchase “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress.” With that, the Library of Congress was born.
It’s a fitting moment to reflect during National Library Week.
From the beginning, the idea behind libraries in this country was straightforward:
Access to information is essential.
After the original collection was destroyed during the War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson helped rebuild it by selling his personal library—arguing that lawmakers should have access to a wide range of ideas.
Because history isn’t simple.
Because knowledge isn’t narrow.
Or, as the now-iconic musical Hamilton reminds us:
“You have no control—who lives, who dies, who tells your story.”
And increasingly, those decisions are being made by removing the stories altogether.
The musical itself exists because of a book—Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow—a Pulitzer Prize–winning biography that brought a founding-era story to a new generation and inspired one of the most celebrated works of modern theater.
And yet, that same book has been removed from a Texas school district under policies that restrict access to materials deemed “inappropriate” for students.
A book that helped create a cultural phenomenon.
A book that expanded access to history.
Removed.
That’s what it looks like, in real time, to decide who gets to tell the story.
Because when books are removed, the answer becomes clear:
👉 Fewer voices.
👉 Narrower perspectives.
👉 A smaller understanding of the world.
The irony is hard to miss.
➡️ We built a national library on the belief that access to knowledge strengthens democracy.
➡️ We are now limiting that access for students.
Another line from Hamilton feels especially relevant here:
“History has its eyes on you.”
Not just in the abstract—but in the specific choices being made in school boards and statehouses about what students are allowed to read, learn, and question.
At Annie’s Foundation, we believe the original premise still holds:
📖 More access to books doesn’t weaken a society—it strengthens it.
So during National Library Week, we’re doing what we’ve always done:
When books are removed, we put them back in readers’ hands.
Because students deserve access to the full story—not just the version filtered through someone else’s discomfort.
