With only 54 days left until Census Day on April 1, 2020, it’s time to act! Libraries can lend a hand, because advocating for Census 2020 is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
- Spread the word: There are countless ways to spread the word about the census, including your library’s social media presence, Complete the Count programs promoting questionnaire completion, and distributing the flyers, handouts, bookmarks provided to your main library branch by the Wyoming State Library and Wyoming Community Foundation. Remember, sharing a post on social media is a free and effortless way to share information with your patrons and library community. The U.S. Census Bureau is available on all mainstream social media platforms and actively participating in promotion, so there’s never a lack of content. Find more ways to spread the word.
- Remember, you aren’t alone: The U.S. Census Bureau has now launched their nationwide 2020 Census advertising campaign, so you aren’t alone in spreading the word. You and your patrons can stand together and Take the Pledge to complete the census and shape your community’s future. Click here to see what efforts are being made for a Complete Count all across the country.
- Fight misinformation!: One of the biggest deterrents for patrons to complete the census is misinformation, and the 2020 Census is no stranger to rumors and harmful stereotypes. The U.S. Census Bureau needs your help setting the record straight — click here for more official information, and report rumors you see or hear (big and small) to rumors@census.gov.
A recap from our previous training emails: Participation in the Census is free and will not ask a household or individual for money. The Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails to request a household’s or individual’s participation. If you or a patron suspect fraud, call 1-800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative. This year is the first census offering online completion, and patrons may be reaching out to their local library for internet and computer resources. Through training in your library, overall census awareness, and promotion in your community, we can help Wyoming achieve a Complete Count.
Do you have a Census 2020 program planned for your library? We want to hear about it! Contact Jessica Dawkins at jessica.dawkins@wyo.gov or Susan Mark at susan.mark@wyo.gov to share your library’s census advocacy efforts.
More resources:
Wyoming State Library’s Census 2020 webpage with marketing and training resources for all (https://library.wyo.gov/census-2020/)