Census 2020
We are excited to announce that we’ve partnered with the @uscensusbureau to support the #2020Census! As a partner, we’ll be working to ensure that our community is accurately represented for Census 2020.
The census is a count of every person who lives in the United States and its territories that happens every 10 years. Starting in March, you will be asked to count everyone who lives in your home as of April 1, 2020. Responding to the 2020 Census is a chance to shape your future. The once-a-decade population count affects your representation in government, determines how much funding your community receives, and provides data to help you plan for the future.
Benefits of a Complete Count
A complete count of every person living in the United States has tremendous benefits for you and for your community.
Census data:
- Accurately determine how many representatives each state has in Congress and inform the redrawing of congressional district boundaries.
- Are used as the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to states, counties, and communities to support resources such as schools, hospitals, and fire departments.
- Inform business decisions, policy, community initiatives, and consumer advocacy.
How to Respond
The 2020 Census marks the first time you will be invited to respond online — even on your mobile device. You can still respond by phone or mail — they’re secure, too — but going online is a great option because it’s convenient, easy, and secure. All responses submitted online are encrypted to protect personal privacy. By law, your responses are kept confidential — they cannot be used against you and can only be used to produce statistics.
In March 2020, your household will receive an invitation in the mail to respond online. When you respond to the census, you’ll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020. Visit 2020census.gov to access and complete the census questionnaire of 10 basic questions regarding age, sex, and the number of people living in your household. Responding to the census will take less than 10 minutes.
The Census and the Library
Public computers and free WiFi are available at FDL to help you respond to the census. Stay tuned for additional 
information about how to participate in the census at the library.
Data from the census is used to allocate funding for many important community services, including the library’s Per Capita funding and funding for schools, housing assistance, health clinics, Medicare, SNAP benefits, fire departments, roads and highways, and more! Make sure you and your family are represented in the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life, and consumer advocacy!
To learn about the upcoming census and why your participation matters, visit 2020census.gov.