Ashley McGuire

Senior Library Assistant, a public library in New Mexico

PLA Member for 2 years

What do you hope public libraries will achieve in the next 75 years?

75 years from now I hope that librarians (and library support staff) will be paid a living wage. It's no surprise that a profession dominated by women is historically underpaid and undervalued. I also hope that there is more support for library worker wellness. We are harassed and made to feel unsafe almost daily, and yet we often receive little, if any, support. Finally, I hope that in 75 years, obtaining an MLIS would be an option for a larger amount of people. The degree is outrageously expensive, does not prepare (public) librarians for the day-to-day realities of working in public library, and leaves many saddled with absurd amounts of debt, which is nearly impossible to pay off on a librarian salary. The path to librarianship should be accessible to all. Events like the PLA National Conference are invaluable because they give library workers an opportunity to organize, talk about the structural issues in our profession, and collaborate to change the system for the better.