Over the past week, Minnesota’s public libraries have been grappling with a series of bomb threats, sparking fear and causing early closures. This alarming trend mirrors similar incidents that occurred in suburban Chicago libraries during the summer of 2023.

Libraries across Minnesota face unprecedented threats

Recent events saw two libraries in Lakeville and Northfield abruptly shut their doors due to these threats. The Heritage Library in Lakeville, a part of the Dakota County Library System, closed early on Tuesday following a menacing phone call. The adjacent Lakeville License Center was also forced to close.

The wave of threats has not been confined to Minnesota. Last year, libraries in various states, including Illinois, were targeted by similar bomb threats. A suspect was apprehended in the Chicago cases, but no further information about their involvement has been released since October.

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Beginning last Friday, several Minnesota libraries, including Fergus Falls Public Library and multiple branches of the East Central Regional Library system, received threatening calls. Jessica Faust, marketing and communication manager for the East Central Regional Library system, quoted by BookRiot, told the Pine County News that they “received two separate phone calls, it appears the calls came from the same person who seemed to be reading from a script.”

These incidents have profoundly impacted library workers across the state, who have expressed their concerns and fears on social media platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter. The threats are seen as part of a larger national backlash against library workers, coinciding with the rise in book bans and negative rhetoric about their profession.

Nationwide pattern of library targeting and its impact on communities

The situation in Minnesota highlights a crucial issue: such threats are not confined to politically divisive states. Even in states with protective laws for libraries and proactive library workers, such threats have become a reality.

Concerns are growing that the list of targeted libraries may be longer than currently known, with some incidents potentially unreported or overlooked. Apart from from book bans, this pattern of threats, shutting down vital public institutions and instilling fear among staff and patrons, demands urgent attention and action. It is a stark reminder of the pervasive challenge facing libraries and the need for nationwide awareness and response.