Libraries Help Montanans Complete The Census
Montana libraries are conducting community outreach and virtual programming and activities using social media to support efforts to complete the U.S. Census. The current deadline to complete the count is Oct. 31.
Libraries have a stake in promoting civic engagement in their communities and the decennial census is a foundational responsibility of all who reside in the United States, under Article 1, Section 2, of the US Constitution. Throughout the summer and into the Fall, libraries will provide support and programs for a complete count in Montana.
Although Montana is on the verge of qualifying for a second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, residents first need to fill out census forms that have been made difficult due to the pandemic’s toll on the postal system. In response, all local libraries are being equipped with high-speed internet so residents can fill them out online.
A 20-page census toolkit including sample forms, a list of books and ways to assist patrons access and complete the count is available in PDF form by visiting docs.msl. mt.gov/learningweb/documents/ Census2020/Census-Toolkit.pdf.
A video titled Census 2020 and the Library can be viewed by visiting vimeo. com/372982602.
A list of programing ideas is available for librarians at libraries. msl.mt.gov/Learning/ Census2020. A Montana Census storymap, a list of count committees and information for tribal members are also available at the site.
You can complete your census by visiting 2020census. gov.
