About Us

Library workers deserve basic workplace protections!

The Memphis Public Library is a city operated organization. Memphis library workers deserve the same workplace protection and classification as the rest of their city cohorts. We are currently classified as political appointees, the same classification given to department heads and board members. However, we are hired and fired and work as any other civil service employee within the city. We are appointed by name only. 

For the past year, library workers have been showing up to city council, canvassing, and spreading awareness of our quest for civil service status. In March 2026, our civil service ordinance passed and our ask to amend a referendum to the 1984 ordinance that cemented our status as political appointees will be appearing on the November ballot! Now we campaign to get out the vote! We hope you'll join us in this fight.

Civil service is overdue!!

​