Stories from America’s Public Libraries
Between October 2025 and July 2026, we are sharing a series of stories about the libraries we visited and the extraordinary people we met, published every Wednesday via Substack.
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The Natural World and the Library in McCall, Idaho
McCall, Idaho is all about the natural world. The library helps locals learn about it.
“The Library Just Is.” Work and Intergenerational Friendship in Baker County Public Library
A library in eastern Oregon, powered largely by volunteers, shows how quiet daily work can help bridge political, cultural and generational divides.
The Freedom to Read in Baker City
The Library Director in rural Oregon who is fortifying his library against censorship using gutsy and unconventional tactics.
Losing John Day
From their lumber mills to their local pool, this small town in rural Oregon has already lost so much. Now, the community is fighting to keep its library open.
What it Means to be Public in Portland, Oregon
Multnomah County Library’s public spirit clashes with its ability to be a safe space for all.
Storytime: Where Books Meet Bubbles
Beneath the sequoias of Sellwood Park, Multnomah County Library makes reading magical.
Preface: The American Library Project
Right now, communities across America are deciding if they can keep their libraries open. We travelled across the country, library by library, to understand why libraries matter today.
