2020 Census: Key Roles for Libraries

In 2020, the Census will be conducted primarily online for the first time. Like past e-government efforts, this will likely impact libraries and libraries’ technology resources as staff work to assist people in participating in the Census. The 2020 Census also presents an opportunity to increase public awareness and use of Census data. To best position libraries to support our communities in the 2020 Census, ALA is engaging with the Census Bureau and other stakeholders to ensure that libraries are informed and represented in the policy discussions and planning process. ALA is advocating for a fair, accurate, and inclusive Census that recognizes the roles libraries will play in this vital civic effort. Want to stay up-to-date on our work to prepare for the 2020 Census? Subscribe to ALA’s Census newsletter.

Why the Census is Important

• Representation: The decennial count of all U.S. residents is required by the U.S. Constitution to determine representation in Congress and the Electoral College (known as reapportionment). This data is also the basis for drawing districts for federal, state, and local offices (known as redistricting).
• Funding: The Census is key to the allocation of billions of dollars in federal funding to states and localities (such as grants to states under the Library Services and Technology Act).
• Information: Data resulting from the Census is widely used by researchers, governments, businesses, and other organizations (to, for example, plan for library services).

Key Roles for Libraries

• Partners in E-Government: In 2020, the Census Bureau for the first time will encourage residents to complete the Census questionnaire online, starting in March 2020. Like past e-government efforts, this likely will place additional demands on library staff and technology resources to enable people to complete the Census questionnaire. (Other response methods will also be available.) Libraries can use their experience partnering with government to assist their communities in achieving a fair, accurate, and inclusive count.
• Education and Community Outreach: Libraries have the opportunity to educate their communities about the Census. In the 2010 Census, more than 6,000 library locations hosted Census Bureau outreach activities.
• Public Spaces: Census Bureau field staff often utilize community rooms in libraries as affordable temporary workspaces, such as for staff hiring and training. Other community stakeholders may also use library meeting rooms to host events related to the 2020 Census.

Advocacy for a Fair, Accurate, and Inclusive Census

• Coalition letter regarding to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittees regarding FY2020 funding for the Census Bureau (April 16, 2019
• Testimony to the House Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee regarding funding for the 2020 Census (April 4, 2019)
• The Scoop: “ALA Joins Group Opposing Census Citizenship Question: Supreme Court Argument will be Heard April 23.” (April 2, 2019)
• Amicus curiae brief of ALA, et al., in the Supreme Court of the United States, Department of Commerce v. State of New York, regarding a citizenship question on the 2020 Census (April 1, 2019)
• Coalition letter to the U.S. Census Bureau on recommendations for Questionnaire Assistance Centers for the 2020 Census (March 19, 2019)
• Washington Hotline: “Libraries Can Ensure Everyone Counts in 2020 Census” (February, 2019)
• Letter to the U.S. Census Bureau regarding Questionnaire Assistance Centers for the 2020 Census (February 22, 2019)
• The Scoop: “Census Resources for Libraries: Help Achieve a Complete Count in 2020.” (January 15, 2019)
• Letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging funding for Questionnaire Assistance Centers in the 2020 Census (December 7, 2018)
• The Scoop: “Libraries and the 2020 Census: Workshops Prepare Librarians for Taking a Complete Count.” (October 30, 2018)
• The Scoop: “Getting Ready for the 2020 Census: Partnering with Complete Count Committees.” (September 11, 2018)
• The Scoop: “ALA Urges Commerce Department to Reject Census Citizenship Question.” (August 9, 2018)
• Comments to the Census Bureau regarding information collection in the 2020 Census (August 6, 2018)
• Coalition comments to the Census Bureau regarding information collection in the 2020 Census (August 1, 2018)
• Coalition Letter to the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee regarding FY 2019 funding for the Census Bureau (June 4, 2018)
• District Dispatch: Gearing up for the 2020 Census (April 4, 2018)
• Coalition Letter to the House and Senate Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittees regarding FY 19 funding for the Census Bureau (May 1, 2018)
• Coalition Letters to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs regarding a citizenship question on the 2020 Census (April 12, 2018)
• Coalition Letter to the Commerce Department opposing the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census (January 10, 2018)

Learn More

• 2020 Census Technology FAQs – frequently asked technical and security questions regarding the 2020 census (CensusCounts.org)
• 2020 Census (U.S. Census Bureau)
• 2020 Census Operational Timeline (U.S. Census Bureau)
• Complete Count Committees (U.S. Census Bureau)
• Census Regional Offices – to contact the Census Bureau staff in your community (U.S. Census Bureau)
• Counting Everyone in the Digital Age: The Implications of Technology Use in the 2020 Decennial Census for the Count of Disadvantaged Groups (Leadership Conference Education Fund and Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, Fall 2017)
• Census 2020 Hard to Count Map (City University of New York Center for Urban Research)
• Public libraries across the United States are planning to play an active role in the 2020 Census (City University of New York Center for Urban Research)

Courtesy of the American Library Association:  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/govinfo/census