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Ad Lib: Advocacy for Libraries

May 22, 2008

Advocates Must Be One Unified Voice for Libraries

Last week library advocates of all types gathered in Washington D.C. for National Library Legislative Day on Wednesday, May13. It was a great opportunity to network with colleagues from across the nation and also to discuss the latest issues with our legislators.

People commit a lot of time and money to attend this event each year. They do this because they care deeply about current issues and want their voices to be heard. Library advocates gather together and organize so that they may be united as to a purpose. When advocates visit legislators, we are going as one group with a clear understanding of what issues we will discuss with the legislators.

Visiting legislators is always a challenge. Their time is precious, and there are many people waiting to speak with them. When planning advocacy visits, we need to stay focused and know who will speak on each individual issue. Our message(s) needs to include thanking legislators for their support of specific bills, a brief explanation of current library concerns and finally a plea for support of new bills that will support our mission and goals.

National Library Legislative Day is a team effort. When an individual disrupts the common purpose of the group, he takes a positive situation and turns it into a negative for everyone – including the legislator. A common purpose is lost. If any library advocate has specific concerns over current legislation, it is best for the advocate to make a separate appointment with the legislator(s) to discuss these concerns in more detail. As time is very short in Washington, advocates will be most effective by making this appointment back at the local district office. Here the legislator will have the time necessary to discuss your concerns at greater length.

Showing respect to your fellow colleagues will make us all better advocates.

posted by Dale at 10:30 am | Comments (1)

May 21, 2008

Election News for Kids–Kids.gov

I just came across a review of this U.S. government website for kids. Lots of fun stuff. What I’m really impressed with is the section entitled, “Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids.” With all the election news right now, librarians, teachers, and parents might want to check this out. Information covering the election process is divieded by grade level. There is also a Parent/Teacher section.

Next time you have a chance, check out Kids.gov

posted by Sharon at 10:06 am | Comments (0)

May 20, 2008

National Library Day Musings

Last week, I attended National Library Day activities in D.C. Briefings on issues of interest to libraries prepared us for our visits to our federal legislators. While they all iterated that not much substantial relating to libraries would be dealt with before the election, we had a wonderful opportunity to talk about the SKILLS ACT, FISA, orphan works, LSTA funding, E-Rate, net neutrality. I have attended this event 6 times in the past few years and for the first time, I felt that I was being heard loudly and clearly. Maybe I know the issues better than I first did, but I sense that the biggest difference is that I’ve established a relationship with these legislators and their staffs that makes what I say more meaningful. Even if you can’t go to DC, you can visit these folks in their local offices and establish a relationship that will lead to better communication and consideration from them. Please consider contacting both your state and federal legislators to tell your library’s story and let them know what’s important in the library world.

posted by Judy R. at 1:20 pm | Comments (0)

Federal LSTA Funding Requests

Federal funding was discussed with all legislators we spoke with in Washington this year on National Library Legislative Day, May 14 2008.

The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding request for FY2009 is $214,432 million. This translates to a total of $6,377,081 in funds to be distributed to Illinois libraries in the form of LSTA grants.  According to Washington insider predictions a decision on funding may not happen until February, but it is important to continue to fight for these funds!

Write or visit your US House Representatives and Senators in their home offices.  The most compelling messages are those that discuss exactly how the LSTA funds have been used by your library, and how you would like to use increased funds. 

I am told letters go in to separate stacks: one for people that contact legislators once on an issue, and a separate special stack for those who keep on persisting for their cause.  We want to fill the second stack with requests to increase federal funding for libraries!

posted by Jill at 1:06 pm | Comments (0)

May 8, 2008

National Library Day

It’s that time of year again—the annual National Library Day when those of us with strong feelings about the role that government can play in the world of libraries trek to D.C. This year we need to once again thank legislators for voting to approve the appropriation for the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Just think of all the good that happens in libraries through the LSTA funding that the Illinois State Library puts out in the form of grants. This year we’re also going to be talking with our legislators on issues such as appropriations and budget, school libraries and the SKILLS Act, telecommunications, E-Government, and E-rate and Universal Service Issues

As the Advocacy Consultant here at LCLS, I like to give members a variety of ways to advocate on behalf of their individual library and the library community in general. If you can’t come to D.C., you can visit legislators’ local offices when Congress isn’t in session

Library Advocacy can also be done from your computer. Using CapWiz you can email legislators. And right now there’s another opportunity to let your federal legislators know how you feel on library issues that are part of federal legislation they vote on by participating in Virtual National Library Day—see the ILA page under advocacy for information on participating.
More about legislative advocacy when the delegation returns from D.C.

posted by Judy R. at 9:27 am | Comments (0)

May 5, 2008

New Voices for Advocacy

You may notices some new names coming in on the Ad Lib blog in the coming weeks, as we expand our roster of contributors beyond yours truly. We’ve invited NSLS’s Advocacy Team &emdash; our director, Sarah Long; Donna Tieberg; Dale Lawrence; Denise Rotella; Jill Lynch; and Sharon Ball &emdash; to share their thoughts on the world of advocacy. We’re also going to be joined by Judy Rake, advocacy coordinator for sister library system Lewis & Clark.

There may be more new contributors coming along, too, but I wanted to extend a welcome to the first batch of new recruits.

posted by Alan at 3:16 pm | Comments (0)