Media reform is a vital component for sustaining public access to information, and supports libraries in fulfilling their mission as what educator Robert D. Leigh termed “a public agency of communication,”. In many ways, the struggles for media democracy are waged side by side with those of librarians. Like media activists, librarians are deeply concerned about issues related to information production, dissemination, and access. In this article, the author will describe how American librarianship complements a democratic media system and will provide examples of how libraries have played a key role in providing public access to independent media (i.e., alternative, noncorporate, or small press) in print and electronic formats. Finally, considering the interdependency of their goals and interests, the author wishes to advocate for greater collaboration between the media reform movement and library activists.
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