National Library Legislative Day 2012 – Wrap up of the 38th annual event

Over 350 library advocates, including about 40 people from Maryland, visited Washington, DC on April 23^rd and 24^th for National Library Legislative Day. Advocates learned about key federal legislation with impact on libraries and visited with members of Congress and their aides to discuss these issues. Library supporters who could not come to Capitol Hill were encouraged to participate in the Virtual Library Legislative Day, which resulted in over 300 messages sent to legislators, plus phone calls and contacts via social media.

Key issues included asking for support for full funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and full funding for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL), a source of dedicated funding for low-income school libraries, as well as bills to work toward filling Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests more quickly and providing free access to taxpayer-funded research. Maryland’s legislators and aides overall expressed great support of libraries and recognized their value. Our efforts served to grow the connection with Maryland’s members of Congress and will serve to assist with advocacy efforts throughout the year.

Library advocates who visited Senator Mikulski’s aide are pictured below. Additional photos from this event (including a few advocates from Maryland!) appear on the American Library Association’s National Library Legislative Day web site.

Many thanks to all who participated in this important federal advocacy event—both in person and virtually!

 

Action Alert! Call Congress this week for Virtual Library Legislative Days, 2012!

On Tuesday, April 24^th, library advocates from across the country will visit members of Congress and their aides in Washington, DC for National Library Legislative Day, an event coordinated by the American Library Association. Even if you can’t make it to DC, you can still participate in this national advocacy effort by calling your representatives in Congress during Virtual Library Legislative Days any day this week. In addition to saying a simple thank you for their support, there are many issues about which you can voice your opinion. See the Capwiz Action Alert for details and talking points about issues, including:

• LSTA – Ask for level funding for FY 2013 for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds to support public libraries. Senators Mikulski and Cardin and Congressman Van Hollen signed Dear Colleague letters in support of this in the Spring.
• Literacy – Ask for level funding in FY 2013 for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program for school libraries. Senator Cardin and Congressmen Cummings, Sarbanes and Van Hollen signed Dear Colleague letters in support of this in the Spring.
• Privacy – Ask members of the House to oppose HR 3523, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Protection Act of 2011 (CISPA) and similar bills. These bills will likely be addressed this week. Please note: Congressmen Bartlett and Ruppersberger are co-sponsors of HR 3523.
• and more! 

Thank you for taking the time to contact your representatives in Congress and strengthen our national advocacy voice in support of libraries!

Webinar video available: National Library Legislative Day 2012, What to Know Before You Go

If you missed the webinar, there is now a video of available of Tuesday’s webinar to prepare you for National Library Legislative Day. Links to other resources mentioned in the webinar are also available. For a description, see the earlier blog post.

More information about National Library Legislative Day is available on the Legislative Panel blog.

National Library Legislative Day 2012 – Webinar: What to Know Before You Go

The American Library Association Washington Office is offering this free webinar on Tuesday, April 10^th at 1:00pm. Before heading to Capitol Hill for National Library Legislative Day, learn how to be the most effective during meetings with legislators and more. See this link for more information, including how to register.

More information about National Library Legislative Day is available on the Legislative Panel blog.

Support Libraries on Capitol Hill! It’s National Library Legislative Day 2012!

Each year, the American Library Association coordinates National Library Legislative Day, a national advocacy effort in support of libraries. This year, library advocates from across the country will come to Washington, DC on Monday, April 23^rd and Tuesday, April 24^th to learn about legislation and issues and visit members of Congress.  Although advocacy is a year-round activity, this coordinated effort helps to make an impression on legislators.

Briefing Day

On Monday, April 23^rd, a briefing day will be held at the Liaison Hotel in Washington, DC.  Speakers will present information on federal legislation and issues that impact libraries to prepare library advocates for legislator visits on Capitol Hill.  To register, complete the online registration form.  The registration fee is $20 and includes breakfast and an afternoon snack.

Reception – 4/16/2012 Update

There is also a reception in the evening of Monday, April 23rd from 5:00-7:00pm in Room 116 of Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senator Jack Reed will be accepting an Honorary Membership to the American Library Association shortly after 5:00pm. Legsislators and their aides should be invited to attend.

Legislator Visits

On Tuesday, April 24th, library advocates will visit members of Congress and ask for support of libraries.  In Maryland, in order to present an organized advocacy effort, formal meetings with legislators will be coordinated through the Maryland Library Association’s Legislative Panel.  If you are interested in participating in the scheduled meetings, please contact Natalie Edington, Maryland’s State Coordinator and the Federal Coordinator of the Legislative Panel, at nedington@aacpl.net by Monday, April 2nd.

4/23/2012 Update: Virtual Library Legislative Days

Even if you can’t make it to DC, you can still participate in this national advocacy effort by calling your representatives in Congress during Virtual Library Legislative Days any day the week of April 23rd. In addition to saying a simple thank you for their support, there are many issues about which you can voice your opinion. See the Legislative Panel blog post for more information.

 4/3/2012 Update – Webinar: What to Know Before You Go

The American Library Association Washington Office is offering this free webinar on Tuesday, April 10^th at 1:00pm. Before heading to Capitol Hill for National Library Legislative Day, learn how to be the most effective during meetings with legislators and more. See this link for more information, including how to register.

4/12/2012 Update: A video of the webinar is now available. Links to resources mentioned in the webinar are also provided.

4/3/2012 Update – Legislative Scorecards available

What legislation of interest to libraries did Maryland’s legislators support in 2011? Check the American Library Association’s Legislative Scorecards for the Senate and the House to find out. Be sure to thank legislators for their support and focus your message on other areas where they could increase their support.

Hotel Information

ALA Washington Office has already blocked off rooms at The Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel. These rooms will be available until March 22nd. To make reservations:

• By Phone: Call 1-866-AFFINIA and reference the ALA National Library Legislative Day group or the reservation ID NLLD30.
• Online: Go to the online reservation form and be sure that NLLD30 in the “Group Code” box.
• By E-mail: Send reservations to reservations@affinia.com. Reference the ALA National Library Legislative Day group or the reservation ID NLLD30, confirm dates and provide payment information.

WHCLIST Award

The White House Conference on Library and Information Services Taskforce (WHCLIST) and the ALA Washington Office are calling for nominations for the WHCLIST Award. This award is granted to a non-librarian participant of NLLD, who receives a $300 stipend and two nights in the Liaison Hotel. For more information, including the application, see the WHCLIST Award page.

More Information

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.  For some additional information, you may also visit the National Library Legislative Day web page of the American Library Association Washington Office.

National Library Legislative Day 2011 – Wrap Up

This year’s National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) and its Virtual counterpart were again a success!  Over 350 members of the library community from across the country participated in this annual event.  Many others who could not make it to Washington, DC contacted their legislators by e-mail and phone.

About 30 members of the Maryland library community visited Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and their aides to encourage support of libraries.  In particular, people asked for support for full funding of the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA), dedicated funding for Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (ILTSL) and including an effective school library program in the reauthorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  Legislators and aides expressed support of libraries and, in several cases, understood the value of libraries.  More importantly, good connections were made, which will help with advocacy efforts throughout the year.

Action Alert! Virtual Library Legislative Days, this week!

Contact your federal elected officials as part of the Virtual Library Legislative Days any time during the week of May 9^th!  This is a great opportunity to participate in a national advocacy effort, even if you can’t make it to Washington, DC for the American Library Association’s (ALA) National Library Legislative Day on May 10^th.  For more information, including talking points, see the Capwiz Action Alert.

Thank you in advance for your advocacy efforts!

Action Alert! Virtual Library Legislative Day, May 10, 2011

Can’t make it to Washington, DC for the American Library Association’s (ALA) National Library Legislative Day on May 10^th?  Then participate in Virtual Library Legislative Day and be a part of the advocacy effort!  Just call and/or e-mail your representatives in Congress on May 10^th, or any time the week of May 9^th – May 13^th.

By contacting your elected officials in Washington, DC and asking them to vote for libraries, you can make a difference. Just five minutes of your time will help support and strengthen the efforts of the library supporters in Washington, DC.

Need some help?  Here are two places to start:

• Legislative Action Center: Capwiz – Use this online tool to identify your elected officials.  This video tutorial may help, if you have never used the Legislative Action Center before.
• Talking Points – Talking points will be posted on the website of the ALA’s Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) as the event draws closer.

Spread the word!  Please share this opportunity to voice support for libraries to your Friends group members, Board of Trustees, library staff, patrons, and community at large. Here are two ways to help promote the event:

• Promotional Bookmark & Flyer – The ALA Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) has provided a reproducible bookmark and flyer to help spread the word.
•  Promote on Facebook – You can promote the event  on Facebook, RSVP and share this event on your Facebook page.

Virtual Library Legislative Day is sponsored by the ALA Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), the ALA Washington Office, ALA Chapter Relations, and the ALA Office for Library Advocacy.

Advocate for Libraries on Capitol Hill! National Library Legislative Day 2011

Last year, many library supporters participated in the rally and visits to legislators on Capitol Hill for Library Advocacy Day.  This year, the annual national advocacy event for libraries, coordinated by the American Library Association Washington Office, has returned to its original format as National Library Legislative Day.  Library advocates from across the country will come to Washington, DC on Monday, May 9^th and Tuesday, May 10^th to learn about legislation and issues and visit members of Congress.  With many issues facing libraries this year, this federal advocacy effort will be very important.

Briefing Day

On Monday, May 9^th, a briefing day will be held at the Liaison Hotel in Washington, DC.  Speakers will present information on federal legislation and issues that impact libraries to prepare library advocates for legislator visits on Capitol Hill.  To register, complete the online registration form.  The registration fee is $20 and includes breakfast and an afternoon snack.  (If you have trouble with the online registration, check out these instructions.)

3/30/2011 Update:  Registration will open at 8:00am.  Briefings will begin at 9:00am.

4/25/2011 Update:  Revised issue briefs have been posted.  Go to the National Library Legislative Day web page and scroll down to the bottom of the page.  Additional issue briefs will be added as they are available.

Reception

A reception will be held in the evening on Monday, May 9^th on Capitol Hill.

3/30/2011 Update:  The reception will be held in the Rayburn Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building from 5:30pm – 7:00pm.

Legislator Visits

On Tuesday, May 10^th, library advocates will visit members of Congress and ask for support of libraries.  In Maryland, in order to present an organized advocacy effort, formal meetings with legislators will be coordinated through the Maryland Library Association’s Legislative Panel.  If you are interested in participating in the scheduled meetings, please contact Natalie Edington, Maryland’s State Coordinator and the Federal Coordinator of the Legislative Panel, at nedington@aacpl.net by Monday, April 18^th.

Hotel Information

If you are interested, a block of rooms has been reserved at the Liaison Hotel under American Library Association 2011 and they usually fill up quickly.  To make reservations, call 1-866-AFFINIA or book online. 

4/13/2011 Update:  There are still some rooms left in the block of ALA rooms.  The reduced rate on these rooms will be available until April 18th.  If the Liaison Hotel staff tell you that the block of rooms if full,  please contact Kristin Murphy from the ALA Washington Office for assistance at kmurphy@alawash.org or 202-628-2520.

More Information

This posting will be updated as more information becomes available.  For some additional information, you may also visit the National Library Legislative Day web page of the American Library Association Washington Office.

Library Advocacy Day – Wrap Up

Library Advocacy Day was held on Tuesday, June 29th.  Over 1600 library supporters, including more than 100 people from Maryland, rallied on Capitol Hill.  Then many visited legislators to encourge support of libraries.  In addition, over 1100 people contacted legislators through Capwiz during Virtual Library Advocacy Week.  Many thanks to all who participated!  Here is a collection of photos and a video on the live event.

• Video of the speakers during the Rally.
• Photos from the Maryland Library Community.
• Photos from other rally participants.
• Photos from the American Library Association’s Washington Office.
• Photos from the GaleCengage.

Also, you can read an article on the event on page 19 of the Summer edition of the The Crab, the newsletter of the Maryland Library Association.