Making Your Issues the Candidate's Issue Too

How Candidate Surveys Help School Library Advocates Shape Education Policy

School board elections may not make national headlines, but they decide what students can read, how libraries are funded, and whether intellectual freedom thrives in our schools. In an era of escalating book bans and misinformation, school librarians and library advocates have a new responsibility: not just curating collections, but helping curate democracy.

One of the most effective tools for doing that is the candidate survey. By asking school board candidates where they stand on issues like book challenges, funding, and staffing, library advocates can inform voters, hold future leaders accountable, and protect the right to read in their communities.

Candidate surveys do far more than collect opinions. They educate voters about where candidates stand before Election Day, create a public record that candidates can be held to after they are elected, and force clarity, especially from candidates who might otherwise avoid public positions. Just as important, surveys must be conducted nonpartisan and legally compliant, focusing on policy and governance, not ideology or endorsements, making them ideal tools for library groups and nonprofit organizations.

How to Run Your Own Survey

You don’t need a large organization to do this work. Start small:

• Choose districts facing active censorship or funding threats

• Write clear, specific questions on:

  • Book challenges and censorship

  • Collection policies

  • Library staffing and student ratios

  • Budget priorities

Well-designed questions push candidates to take real positions and reveal contradictions when they don’t.

Access EveryLibrary's extensive deck of candidate questions on this Google Sheet for free anytime. If you would like to field your own candidate questionnaire but need help getting started, please email us at [email protected]. 

The most time-consuming step is often finding candidate emails. Start with your county elections office, which holds public candidate filings. If emails aren’t listed, check campaign finance reports, local media, or League of Women Voters guides. A surprisingly effective tactic: mail a postcard to the candidate’s filing address with a QR code linking to your survey. The best time to launch your survey is 6–8 weeks before Election Day, once candidate filing closes and ballots are final. Even partial participation creates powerful insight. Publish results through voter guides, press, social media, and public meetings while always maintaining strict nonpartisanship and presenting answers without commentary or endorsement.

Candidate surveys don’t require a lot of money or political connections - just commitment. Start with one district, one election, and one set of questions. Over time, this work builds informed voters, accountable leaders, and stronger school libraries.

Explore sample surveys, templates, and case studies through EveryLibrary’s survey question examples and join the growing movement of library advocates turning civic engagement into lasting impact.