"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT MORE THAN BOOKS WELL FIND OUT WHAT IS CHANGING IN AMERICA'S LIBRARIES.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT AN UNPRECEDENTED 24 HOURS IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ENDING HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN PASSING THE BATON TO VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS WHO QUICKLY LINED UP THE BACKING OF LEADERS IN MARYLAND AND ELSEWHERE.

JOINING US TONIGHT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CAMPAIGN 2024 IS TODD EBERLY, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT ST.MARY'S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND.

PROFESSOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS OVER, RIGHT?

THERE WAS MAYBE A BRIEF WINDOW AFTER THE BIDEN ANNOUNCEMENT WHERE A LEADING DEMOCRAT COULD HAVE JUMPED IN BUT THAT WINDOW SEEMS TO HAVE CLOSED REALLY FAST.

>> OVER HALF OF THE DELEGATES SHE WOULD NEED CAN PUBLICLY PLEDGED SUPPORT.

SHE'S GOTTEN AN ENDORSEMENT FROM 95% OF THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS.

FROM ABOUT 41 OUT OF 47 DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS.

IT'S CLEAR UNLESS THERE'S MAYBE A FRINGE DEMOCRAT WHO TRIES TO UP INTO THIS.

THE NOMINATION IS HERS.

>> Jeff: FOUR YEARS AGO YOU FAMOUSLY TWEETED THAT JOE BIDEN SHOULD PICK AS HIS RUNNING MATE KAMALA HARRIS AND THAT THAT WOULD BE THE RIGHT ELECTORAL COMBINATION.

SO WITH THAT TRACK RECORD, WHAT SHOULD ALMOST PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE KAMALA HARRIS DO FOR HER RUNNING MATE?

>> I THINK SHE NEEDS TO PICK SOMEONE EITHER FROM A SWING STATE OR BELIEVE IT OR NOT A RED STATE.

THAT HELPS BROADEN THAT APPEAL TO SWING VOTERS.

THE TOP OF MY LIST RIGHT NOW IS SENATOR MARK KELLYE FROM ARIZONA, DECORATED WAR VETERAN, ASTRONAUT HAS AN AMAZING STORY NOT JUST HIS BUT HIS WIFE'S AND PROBABLY HELPS PUT ARIZONA KEEP IT IN THE DEMOCRATIC COLUMN.

THAT BEING SAID, I THINK ANDY BESHEAR THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY HAS REAL POTENTIAL WOULD OFFER AN INCREDIBLE CONTRAST WITH J.D.

VANCE.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS A DEEP BENCH OF GOVERNORS AND SENATORS WHO WOULD MAKE GREAT RUNNING MATES.

>> Jeff: IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH KELLYE WHERE HE WOULD THROW THAT SENATE SEAT INTO PLAY?

>> SO THAT'S THE BIG CONCERN IS ARIZONA BEING A SWING STATE THAT WOULD CALL FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION AND GIVEN HOW CLOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN IN THE SENATE IT COULD BE A DECIDING FACTOR WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE SENATE.

TYPICALLY YOU WORRY ABOUT THE CURRENT ELECTION NOT THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO BE A YEAR LATER.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK SWING STATES.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES?

WHAT IS CLOSE?

WHAT IS NOT CLOSE?

WHAT DO YOU SEE OUT THERE?

>> LOOK MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN AND PENNSYLVANIA ARE THE KEY THOSE WERE THE KEY THAT DONALD TRUMP WINNING EVEN THOUGH HE LOST THE POPULAR VOTE IN 2016.

THEY WERE KEY TO JOE BIDEN WINNING THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2020.

HE BROUGHT ARIZONA AND GEORGIA WITH HIM FOR GOOD MEASURE.

BOTH STATES ARE TRENDING BLUE BUT THEY WILL PROBABLY BE THE TOUGHEST FOR HIM TO HOLD ON TO.

TRUMP HAD BEEN DOING WELL IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT WILL BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW WELL HARRIS DOES NOW THAT BIDEN AND QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS MENTAL ACUTE ARE NO LONGER PART OF THE 2024 DISCUSSION.

>> Jeff: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE MAYBE THE MARYLAND U.S. SENATE RACE AN OBSERVATION TO MAKE CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN WHERE YOU CAN SEND AN E-MAIL QUESTION TO LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

TODD I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE ON-LINE BELTING MARKETS FOR POLITICAL RACES BUT I LOOKED AT THE PREDICT IT SITE AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE TRUMP WITH A BIT OF AN EDGE STILL.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

AND DO YOU WANT TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AT THIS POINT?

>> REALLY WOULDN'T.

I THINK THAT HARRIS IS SO NEW, THAT IT HASN'T REALLY REGISTERED YET.

WE DON'T HAVE TRUE POLLING THAT WAS DONE BEFORE YESTERDAY.

FEATURED A HYPOTHETICAL CONTEST.

NOW IT WOULD BE A REAL CONTEST.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK, TWO WEEKS UNTIL WE CAN SUSS OUT WHERE THINGS REALLY STAND.

>> Jeff: YOU'VE WRITTEN A BUN OF BOOKS AND THERE IS DEFINITELY A COUPLE BOOKS ONE ON JUST THE 24-HOUR PERIOD.

AND WHAT WENT DOWN TO SOLIDIFY THE NOMINATION FOR KAMALA HARRIS THAT QUICKLY.

AND THE OTHER THING I'M REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT IS WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS DOING ON A DEBATE STAGE IN THE MONTH OF JUNE?

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA?

>> SURE.

YEAH, THERE IS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR A BOOK LOOKING AT THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE IDEA.

THE WHOLE POINT OF THAT EARLY DEBATE WAS THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN WANTED TO TRY TO SHAKE UP THE RACE.

CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY AND THAT IS WHAT THEY WERE HOPING WOULD COME OUT YOU HAVE THAT BECAUSE THEY FELT GOOD COMING OUT OF THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

AND IN THE NDZ THEY DID SHAKE UP THE RACE JUST NOT IN THE WAY THEY INTENDED TO.

>> Jeff: LOOKING AHEAD TO DEBATES IN THE FALL, NOT CLEAR THE EXISTING PLAN IS GOING TO GO FORWARD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MIGHT.

KAMALA HARRIS WAS A STRONG DEBATOR AND COULD BE EXPECTED TO LAND PUNCHES I WOULD THINK?

>> RIGHT.

AND IF ANYBODY WATCHED HER ADDRESSING THE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS THIS AFTERNOON AND SHE ALREADY HAS MANY OF HER LINES READY TO GO.

TRUMP WANTED TO HAVE ANOTHER DEBATE WITH BIDEN HE WAS EAGER FOR IT.

I AM ASSUMING HARRIS WILL WANT AT LEAST TWO DEBATES WITH TRUMP IF NOT THREE WHICH USED TO BE TRADITIONAL.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT THEY CAN WORKOUT.

BUT I REALLY DO WANT TO SEE THE TWO OF THEM DEBATE ONE ANOTHER.

I THINK THE NATION HAS TO SEE THAT.

I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT TRUMP AND THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN COME TO AN AGREEMENT QUICKLY.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE A CALL FROM HOWARD COUNTY.

STEVE THANK YOU FOR CALLING GO AHEAD.

STEVE, CAN YOU HEAR US?

SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF LINE TROUBLE THERE.

ONE OF THE OTHER IRONIES IN ADDITION TO TRYING TO SHAKE UP THE RACE WITH A DEBATE IS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN LINING UP TO ARGUE THAT JOE BIDEN WAS TOO OLD.

AND NOW THAT THROW IN THE ARGUMENT OUT THERE IT WILL COME BACK AND BOOMERANG ON HIM.

>> YES, SUDDENLY TRUMP BECOMES THE OLDEST NOMINEE EVER RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND NOW THE FOCUS WILL BE ON HIM AT THE AGE OF 78.

SO THEY MAY COME TO REGRET WANTING TO MAKE AGE AN ISSUE AS SOMEONE WHO I BELIEVE ACTUALLY PREDATES THE BABY BOOM GENERATION IS NOW RUNNING AGAINST OUR FIRST GENERATION X NOMINEE.

>> Jeff: DO YOU SEE ANY IMPACT ON DOWN BALLOT RACES IN MARYLAND?

OF COURSE THE TICKET FIGHT IS GOING TO BE THE U.S. SENATE SEAT, ANGELA ALSOBROOKS AND LARRY HOGAN.

>> YES.

WHAT I SEE IS THE REAL POTENTIAL IS THE ENGAGEMENT OF YOUNG VOTERS.

BE IT YOUNGER MILLENNIUMS AND ESPECIALLY GEN Z.

THEY WERE NOT THRILLED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF CHOOSING BETWEEN JOE BIDEN AND DONALD TRUMP.

TO THEM TWO OLD MEN THEY DIDN'T DEEM TO BE TOO RELEVANT.

KAMALA HARRIS CONNECTED REALLY WELL AT LEAST WITH THOSE GENERATIONS WHEN SHE RAN FOUR YEARS AGO SHE HAS MAINTAINED A GOOD CONNECTION.

YOU'VE SEEN FOLKS IN THE POPULAR CULTURE COMING OUT QUICKLY AND ENDORSING HER.

IF SHE GETS YOUNG VOTERS TO REENGAGE THAT HELPS DEMOCRATS DOWN BALLOT.

BIDEN'S NUMBERS AMONG RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY VOTERS WERE STARTING TO SOFTEN THEY HAVE A HIGHER APPROVAL RATING OF HARRIS THAN BIDEN.

THAT HELPS DEMOCRATS DOWN BALLOT.

SO, YEAH, I MEAN THIS COULD BE A GIFT TO MORE THAN JUST THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> Jeff: LET'S TRY THE PHONES AGAIN BACK TO HOWARD COUNTY FOR STEVE.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING GO AHEAD.

SOUNDS ABOUT THE SAME.

STEVE, TRY SENDING US AN E-MAIL.

SO TODD, LET'S TALK MONEY FOR A SECOND.

THE SPECTACULAR FLOOD OF MONEY FOR KAMALA HARRIS AFTER THE EVENTS OF YESTERDAY.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT, APPEARS LIKE SHE IS GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO A CHALLENGE TO TAKEOVER ROUGHLY $90 MILLION IN THE BIDEN-HARRIS ACCOUNT.

>> EXPECT A LOT OF LEGAL CHALLENGES ALL OF WHICH WILL FAIL.

HER BECOMING THE TOP OF THE TICKET BECAUSE SHE WAS PART OF THE TICKET SHE HAS ACCESS TO THOSE FUNDS THERE WILL BE NO PROBLEM GETTING ON THE BALLOT BY STATE LAWS AND YEAH, SHE RAISED IT.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY $81 MILLION IN THE LAST 24 HOURS AND WHAT JUMPED OUT AT ME IS 60% OF THE FOLKS WHO DONATED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS IT WAS THEIR FIRST DONATION OF THE 2024 CYCLE.

SO THAT'S NEW FOLKS ENGAGING AND COMING IN TO DONATE MONEY.

SHE IS GOING TO HAVE NO PROBLEM RAISING MONEY.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HIGH COST CAMPAIGN ON BOTH SIDES AND THEY ARE GOING TO MATCH EACH OTHER DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, NO QUESTION.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF VICE-PRESIDENTS TRYING TO SUCCEED THEIR PRESIDENT?

GEORGE HW BUSH.

WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS YOU ARE NOT DIRECTLY SADDLED WITH THE RECORD OF THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION BUT A LITTLE BIT?

>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE RECORD IS NOT GOOD BUT TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAD TWO TERMS OF AN INCUMBENT AND THEN THEIR VICE-PRESIDENT IS RUNNING.

AND IN THE UNITED STATES WE TYPICALLY DON'T GIVE A PARTY THREE TERMS.

WHEN THAT HAS HAPPENED IT'S BEEN RARE WE USUALLY SWITCH PARTIES THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION BIDEN HAS HAD ONLY ONE TERM AND HIS VICE-PRESIDENT IS NOW RUNNING.

THE SAMPLE SIZE FOR THAT ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEBODY DROPPING OUT OF A RACE THIS CLOSE IS SMALL.

IN FACT THE SAMPLE SIZE IS ONE.

>> Jeff: YEAH, I WAS THINKING THAT ONE ADVANTAGE SHE HAS SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO RUN IN A PRIMARY.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO STAKE OUT POSITIONS THAT WOULD APPEAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BASE TO THE EXTENT SHE WANTS TO IT FREES HER UP TO RUNS TOWARD THE CENTER EASILY.

>> SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO RUN TO THE LEFT AS OFTEN YOU DO IN A PRIMARY.

WHEREAS DONALD TRUMP CONTINUES TO FOCUS MOST OF HIS ATTENTION TOWARDS ACTIVATING THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT DOES CREATE AN OPENING FOR HARRIS AMONGST SWING VOTERS WHERE SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO COME RUSHING BACK TO THE CENTER.

KEEP IN MIND, PRIMARIES ALSO HELP CANDIDATES HONE THEIR MESSAGE, DEVELOP THEIR CAMPAIGN SKILLS.

SO THERE IS A BENEFIT FROM HAVING TO GO THROUGH THAT CONTEST AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY A NET BENEFIT FOR A LOSS TO HAVE AVOIDED THAT.

>> Jeff: E-MAIL QUESTION.

SINCE WE'RE MIXING THINGS UP, WHY NOT HARRIS, HOGAN TICKET?

DON'T SEE HER PICKING A REPUBLICAN, DO YOU?

>> I DO NOT.

THAT'S SIMILAR, AARON SOCKER INWROTE AN OP-ED CALLING ON THE DEMOCRATS TO NOMINATE MITT ROMNEY THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN IN A WORLD FICTION.

I'M NOT SAYING IT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU THINK, OBVIOUSLY THE LAST WOMAN TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT LOST TO TRUMP.

IS THAT AN ISSUE?

AND THIS RACE ALREADY HAD A HUGE GENDER GAP WOULD FIGURE TO GET BIGGER?

>> LOOK, I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SEXISM QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A FACTOR BIG ENOUGH TO AFFECT AN ELECTION.

LET'S REMEMBER HILLARY CLINTON WENT INTO 2016 ALREADY WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BAGGAGE BOTH FROM HER AND HER SPOUSE, THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

KAMALA HARRIS DOESN'T HAVE THAT BAGGAGE.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT I WANT TO JUST ASSUME A COMPARISON BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

>> Jeff: TODD EBERLY WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

NOW, PRESIDENT OF AMERICA'S PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ALSO THE C.E.O.

OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH SONIA ALCANTARA-ANTOINE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

I WANT TO BEGIN WITH THIS, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOW A NO SHUSHING RULE IN THE LIBRARY AND AS A YOUNG MAN I MAY HAVE BEEN SHUSHED A FEW TIMES WHAT.

HAS CHANGED?

>> WELL, WHAT'S CHANGED IS THAT LIBRARIES HAVE CHANGED.

WE DO NOT SHUSH IN LIBRARIES ANYMORE.

YES, YOU CAN COME TO THE LIBRARY AND FIND QUIET SPACES FOR READING.

AND LIBRARIES ARE COMMUNITY HUBS THEY ARE PLACES OF SOCIAL ACTIVITY.

THEY ARE PLACES OF LEARNING AND EXPLORATION.

AND SOMETIMES THAT ACTIVITY GETS NOISY.

WE ARE COMMUNITY CONVENING SPACES WHERE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AT ALL STAGES OF LIFE TO LEARN, EXPLORE, CREATE AND CONNECTION.

SO SOMETIMES THAT'S QUIET AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOISY.

AND WE TRY TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE ACTIVITIES AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW THEY ARE WELCOME AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS FIELD?

>> WELL, MY VERY FIRST JOB WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD WAS A LIBRARY PAGE.

I LOVED READING I LOVED BOOKS AND THE LIBRARY WAS REALLY A SAFE SPACE FOR ME.

AND THEN SO I DID THAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THEN I WENT ON TO COLLEGE.

AND AS I WAS EXPLORING CAREER OPTIONS I STARTED TO LOOK MORE DEEPLY INTO LIBRARIES AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIBRARIES AND ROLES WITHIN LIBRARIES.

AND WHAT I FOUND IS THERE ARE MANY CAREER PATHS WITHIN LIBRARIES AND THAT TO ME WAS EXCITING.

AND WHAT WAS ALSO REALLY EXCITING IS LIBRARIES WERE AUTO EVOLVING EVEN BACK THEN.

AND LOOKING INTO LIBRARIES.

AND WHAT I UNDERSTOOD TO BE WHAT LIBRARIES WERE, WAS CHANGING.

AND IT WAS CHANGING BEFORE MY EYES AND THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO ME, TO BE A PART OF THE INDUSTRY THAT WAS CHANGING AND IT WAS EVOLVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ITS COMMUNITY I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

AND WHEN I MADE THE DECISION TO GO TO LIBRARY SCHOOL AND BE A LIBRARIAN IT'S BEEN NO TURNING BACK.

I'M SO PLEASED AND PRIVILEGED THAT I GET TO DO THIS JOB EVERYDAY.

>> Jeff: HOW DID THE PANDEMIC CHANGE THINGS FOR AMERICA'S LIBRARIES?

>> I THINK WHAT CHANGED IS THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY HAD TO BE SIX FEET APART AND SOCIALLY DISTANT AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE.

BUT WHAT HAS NOT CHANGED ABOUT LIBRARIES IS THAT IT IS OUR JOB TO MEET THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT'S AT.

AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.

WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WHEN THERE WERE ALL THE RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE TO KEEP MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STAFF SAFE.

AND WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PIVOT AND DO IT QUICKLY SO THERE WAS MINIMAL DISRUPTION IN LIBRARY SERVICE AND ACCESS TO LIBRARY RESOURCES DURING A TIME WHEN EVERYBODY WAS SHUT DOWN AND QUARANTINED.

BUT THAT WAS A CHALLENGE BUT WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO IT AND WE PIVOTED AND TURNED ON A DIME AND KEPT SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEN THE LIBRARIES WERE NOT PHYSICALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WE INSTEAD OFFERED CURBSIDE PICK UP SO PEOPLE COULD ACCESS LIBRARY MATERIALS EVEN THOUGH THE LIBRARY WAS CLOSED.

WE LAUNCHED OUR WI-FI HOTSPOT PROGRAM DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO WHEN MANY PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT OKAY NOW MY JOB IS 100% ON-LINE NOW MY SCHOOLING IS 100% ON-LINE BUT I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND I CANNOT GO TO THE LIBRARY WHAT DO I DO?

NOW WE HAVE THE OPTION TO CHECK OUT WI-FI HOTSPOTS SO PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AT HOME.

IT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WE WERE EVOLVING ALONGSIDE OUR COMMUNITY DURING A TIME THAT WAS REALLY CHALLENGING.

AND THERE WAS NO GUIDE BOOK OR PLAYBOOK ON WHAT TO DO.

BUT THE ACT OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, REMAINED FUNDAMENTALLY UNCHANGED AND I WAS REALLY PROUD THE WAY WE SERVED OUR COMMUNITY DURING WHAT WAS A HARROWING AND CHALLENGING PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERIENCE THAT WE ALL WENT THROUGH.

>> Jeff: I KNOW YOU WERE A BIG SUPPORTERS OF THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE SIGNED BY GOVERNOR MOORE.

WHAT DOES THAT DO?

>> SO WHAT IT DOES ULTIMATELY IT PROTECTS THE RIGHT TO READ FOR ALL MARYLANDERS.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING NATIONWIDE IS THIS SHARP UPTICK IN CHALLENGES TO THE CONTENT OF MATERIALS THAT ARE ON THE SHELVES AT LIBRARIES.

AND SO PUBLIC LIBRARIES FOR EXAMPLE SAW A 92% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF BOOK CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING.

AND IN MARYLAND WE WERE STARTING TO SEE AN UPTICK IN THAT AS WELL PARTICULARLY IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE.

WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THEY DISAGREE WITH THE CONTENT OF WHAT IS IN A BOOK SO THEY TRY TO TAKE THE BOOKS OFF THE SHELF.

WITH THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT IT SAYS THAT BOOKS CANNOT BE REMOVED BECAUSE ANYONE PERSON OR A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE A RELIGIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL OR IDEOLOGICAL DISAGREEMENT WITH WHAT IS IN THE BOOK.

WE CANNOT HAVE A ROBUST AND THRIVING DEMOCRACY.

STUDENTS CAN'T LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES, ABOUT THE WORLD OR THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD, IF CONTENT IS SUPPRESSED.

SO THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT PROTECTS BOOKS, IT PROTECTS READING AND PROTECTS LIBRARIANS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO DO THEIR JOBS AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO A BROAD RANGE OF MATERIALS.

>> Jeff: ARE THE CHALLENGES FROM THE PUBLIC THAT YOU MENTIONED, IS THAT MOSTLY DRIVEN BY CONSERVATIVES WHO MIGHT OBJECT TO FOR EXAMPLE SOMETHING TO DO WITH GENDER DIFFERENCES, BUT COULD IT COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE?

WOULD THERE BE BOOKS AT PROGRESSIVES MIGHT OBJECT TO THAT TALK ABOUT GUNS OR SOMETHING?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY THAT IS A FANTASTIC QUESTION.

LIBRARIES ARE A MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS.

SO WE DO NOT TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO THINK BUT WE PROVIDE A WIDE ARRAY OF MATERIALS SO PEOPLE CAN READ AND LEARN TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES.

ON THE SHELVES AT OUR OUR LIBRARIES YOU ARE GOING TO FIND BOOKS, MATERIALS THAT COME FROM DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW.

AND SO PEOPLE COME FROM ALL SORTS OF PERSPECTIVES.

AND PEOPLE NOT EVERYBODY THINKS THE SAME WAY.

YOU WILL SEE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT TYPES OF IDEAS REPRESENTED IN OUR COLLECTIONS.

SOMETIMES YOU WILL SEE CONSERVATIVE FOLKS WHO WILL CHALLENGE THE BOOKS ON THE SHELF.

SOMETIMES YOU WILL SEE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL FOLKS WHO CHALLENGE BOOKS ON THE SHELVES.

IT IS NOT ANY ONE PARTICULAR GROUP THAT CHALLENGES BOOKS.

>> Jeff: WHO DECIDES?

DOES THIS LEGISLATION GIVE THE STATE THE AUTHORITY OR COULD IT BE DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE?

>> SO WHAT THE ACT SAYS IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE LIBRARY STANDARDS PUT IN PLACE FOR ALL LIBRARIES IN THE STATE.

AND THESE STANDARDS ARE BASED ON COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT, PRACTICES, WIDELY HELD BEST PRACTICES IN TERMS OF HOW TO CURATE BALANCED COLLECTIONS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.

THE LAW DOES NOT SAY YOU WILL HAVE THESE BOOKS OR YOU WILL NOT HAVE THOSE BOOKS IT PUTS THE STANDARDS IN PLACE SO THAT ALL LIBRARIES ARE OPERATING FROM THE SAME FRAMEWORK.

>> Jeff: IT SEEMS TO BE HONEST, LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A SIDE SHOW BECAUSE ANY YOUNG PERSON WITH A PHONE OR YOUNG PERSON COULD CHECK OUT A LAPTOP OR USE A WORK STATION AT THE LIBRARY AND IF YOU HAVE A PHONE AND A BROWSER YOU CAN SEE ANYTHING OUT THERE.

AND WHETHER THE BOOK IS ON THE SHELF OR NOT, ISN'T GOING TO STOP ANYBODY FROM LEARNING ABOUT WHATEVER IT IS.

>> AND THAT'S THE IRONY OF ALL OF THIS.

I FEEL PERSONALLY THERE IS MORE HARMFUL CONTENT ON THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND I THINK THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE CONCERNED VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THEIR KIDS ARE GETTING EXPOSED TO IN THAT ARENA.

BUT I THINK WHAT THE LIBRARY DOES IS THAT WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, MANY POINTS OF VIEW.

AND WHAT WE ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO DO IS WHEN CHILDREN CHECK OUT BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY, THAT THEY HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR KIDS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE READING.

AND THEY DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT WHAT THEIR CHILD HAS ACCESS TO OR WHAT THEY ARE READING BUT WHAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO IS LIMIT THAT ACCESS FOR OTHER PARENTS AND OTHER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Jeff: I KNOW YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT RENOVATIONS HAPPENING AT A NUMBER OF YOUR BRANCHES.

TO ME, LOOKING AT THE VIEW BEHIND YOU AND THE TOWSON LIBRARY IT LOOKS VERY FAMILIAR.

I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE OLDER LIBRARIES IN YOUR SYSTEM AND HOW THE PHYSICAL PLANT HAS KEPT UP OR NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGES YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE 19 BRANCHES IN THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM AND THE AVERAGE AGE OF OUR FACILITIES IS ABOUT 60.

SO ALL OUR LIBRARIES WERE BUILT AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE USED LIBRARIES VERY DIFFERENTLY.

AND SO THE CHALLENGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US IS TO MODERNIZE OUR FACILITIES AND SO THAT AT THE SAME TIME THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE EVOLVING OUR BUILDINGS ARE EVOLVING ALONG TIED SIDE.

TOWSON LIBRARY IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT WHERE IT WAS BUILT AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE JUST USED THE SPACE VERY DIFFERENTLY.

SO HERE WE ARE IN THE YEAR 2024 AND PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND ENOUGH ELECTRICAL OUTLETS FOR EXAMPLE.

PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND ENOUGH STUDY ROOM SPACES BECAUSE PEOPLE STILL WANT QUIET ROOMS AND QUIET SPACES AT THE LIBRARY.

WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH THE SIZE OF OUR MEETING ROOM.

WE HOPE TO HAVE LARGE EVENTS WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE AND THAT ARE NOISY TYPES OF EVENTS AND WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPACES TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

FOR US WE ARE DEFINITELY FOCUSED ON CREATING A NEW TOWSON LIBRARY THAT CAN SERVE OUR COMMUNITY FOR TODAY BUT ALSO FOR TOMORROW.

AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THAT SAME ISSUE ACROSS THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.

>> Jeff: LIBRARIES REMAIN NO MATTER WHAT IS ON THE SHELVES THEY REMAIN A GREAT PLACE TO STUDY.

A FEW YEARS AGO I HAD TO STUDY FOR A TEST DENSE MATERIAL, I FOUND IF I WAS AT HOME, I WAS JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE FRINGE.

BUT BY GOING TO THE LIBRARY I WENT TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIBRARY I'M SITTING WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE GRINDING AWAY, AND IT WAS SORT OF MORE INCENTIVE FOR ME TO BE FOCUSED.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I WOULD HAVE PAID FOR IT BUT OF COURSE IT WAS FREE.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN THERE'S SO MUCH VALUE IN WHAT THE LIBRARY OFFERS TO PEOPLE.

NOT JUST THE RESOURCES WE OFFER, BUT WE ARE REALLY A QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICE.

WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE WILL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL, WORK AND IN LIFE.

AND SOMETIMES THAT'S A BOOK, SOMETIMES IT'S ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

BUT SOMETIMES IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY.

AND CONNECTION TO OTHERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

SOMETIMES IT'S ABOUT LEARNING SOMETHING NEW AND GAINING A NEW LIFE SKILL.

SOMETIMES IT'S ABOUT BEING A GREAT STUDENT OR COMPETITIVE IN THE WORKFORCE.

WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO A MYRIAD NUMBER OF RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE.

AND SO THAT RIGHT THERE IS HARD TO PLACE A DOLLAR AMOUNT IN TERMS OF THE VALUE THAT WE GIVE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND TO ENTIRE COMMUNITIES.

>> Jeff: SONIA ALCANTARA-ANTOINE THE C.E.O.

OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK ON FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

REMEMBER YOU CAN SEE PAST EDITIONS OF OUR PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV AND ON THE FREE PBS APP AND FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA@MPT NEWS.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.