Last October, at least 15 colleges and universities received bomb threats to their libraries. Yesterday, January 12, 2025–the first day back on campus for many universities following winter break–at least eight college and university received similar library bomb threats.

Among the recipients of those bomb threats directed at their libraries include:

• University of Nebraska at Omaha
• University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Harris-Stowe State University (Missouri)
• University of Louisville (Kentucky)
• Murray State University (Kentucky)
• Suffolk University (Massachusetts)
• Missouri Southern State University
• Southeast Missouri State University

Campuses received the threats via email. None resulted in discovering a physical threat in or near the targeted area.

Although there is little information about these threats, they mirror the swatting incident that happened in October.  Swatting is criminal harassment that purposefully deceives law enforcement into believing there is an emergency at a particular address, encouraging a significant response. It can be considered an act of stochastic terrorism.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, closure of such swatting incidents can be difficult if impossible. That’s in large part due to the technology used in the crimes allows callers to be well-disguised. Swatting puts a significant drain on money and resources, and it heightens the level of fear among those who are subjected to them. In a culture immersed in mass shootings, the fake threats take a big toll.

Since the new school year started in August, colleges and universities nationwide have been victims of swatting several times. It is the second time that college and university libraries have been specifically named in these threats this academic year.

Libraries have seen waves of bomb threats since 2021, when both the institution and the materials housed within them became subject to unrelenting challenges, bans, and complaints. Illinois public libraries saw numerous bomb threats in fall 2023, Minnesota public libraries saw them in early 2024, and many others have been targeted as well.

Academic libraries haven’t been immune to attacks related to their materials or practices over the last five years. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) has been at the forefront of those attacks, as have been significant budget cuts leading to staff and hour reduction. In 2025, we saw a significant rise in cuts to these libraries as academia grapples with budget challenges. Unfortunately for students and staff, it always seems to be the library that feels the pain first. So far this academic year, we’ve seen major cuts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Duke University, Washington University in St. Louis, Princeton University, University of California at Santa Barbara, Utah Valley University, and more. We will likely continue to see such cuts going into 2026.