Action Alert! Advocate Virtually for National Library Legislative Day 2013!

National Library Legislative Day is being held in Washington DC on May 7^th and 8^th. But if you can’t make it to DC, you can still take part in this national advocacy event by virtually contacting your representatives in Congress during Virtual Library Legislative Days, May 6^th – May 10^th. Give a simple thank you for supporting libraries, show appreciation for signing on to a Dear Colleague letter, encourage support  of legislation or advocate for a library issue that is your passion.

• Issue Briefs Read the background and talking points on key issues from the briefs available on the Capwiz Action Alert.
• Call Congress – Enter your ZIP code on the Capwiz site and get the phone numbers for your representatives.
• Email Congress using Capwiz – Visit the Capwiz Action Alert for the virtual event. For your convenience, a pre-written letter is provided and you are encouraged to personalize your message to tell your story. Never used Capwiz? This is an easy way to start!
• Tweet Congress – Use Twitter to automatically send a tweet to Congress in support of the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL). Sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

Many thanks in advance for your virtual contribution to the success of National Library Legislative Day!

 

Action Alert! Virtual MD Library Legislative Days 2013

Add your voice in support of libraries during the fourth annual Virtual Maryland Library Legislative Days! This online advocacy event is being held to coincide with the live Maryland Library Legislative Day in Annapolis. Between February 13th and February 15th, members of the Maryland library community—library staff, trustees, Friends groups, customers, volunteers—are encouraged to take action! Please take a few moments to send a personal message to your state representatives to advocate for libraries. If you are already going to Annapolis, use the Action Alert to send a thank you to the legislators you visited. To
get started, go to the Capwiz Action Alert.

Thank you in advance for your advocacy efforts!

Action Alert! Ask Senators for Debate on Privacy Bill

The U.S. Senate will soon vote on whether to re-authorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act. This bill, passed in 2008, legitimized a large part of the Bush Administration’s warrantless wiretapping program.

The FISA Amendments Act is set to expire at the end of the year. Many in the Senate would like to move quickly and re-authorize the bill without debate or consideration of amendments. The American Library Association (ALA) would like to see debate on and consideration of amendments that would increase privacy protections and add transparency requirements.

Please go to Capwiz and write to Senators Mikulski and Cardin to ask them to allow debate on the FISA Amendments Act. A pre-written letter is available, and you can personalize it to make it more effective.

Thanks in advance for any advocacy efforts!

Action Alert! Ask Senators to Support Email Privacy

The American Library Association is asking people to email their Senators and ask for support for e-mail privacy. This Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee is considering an update to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) to ensure our email and online data finally receive the same privacy protections from government access as postal mail and phone calls.

However, Sen. Grassley of Iowa is pushing an amendment to allow government agencies to read our email without a warrant. Go to VanishingRights.com to tell your senators you oppose Grassley’s amendment.  Urge them to support warrants for email.

At VanishingRights.com you can send an email to your senator and find their office number to make a call. You will also find more information on ECPA and talking points. Please ask your senators to protect privacy today. Although MD does not have a Senator on the Senate Judiciary Committee, please consider contacting Senators Mikulski and Cardin to increase awareness and gain support on the issue.

Thank you in advance for your advocacy efforts!

Action Alert! Urgent: Ask Reps to Oppose HR 5949, FISA Amendments Act of 2012

On Thursday, September 13^th, the House will vote on HR 5949, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012. Please contact your representative in the House to ask them to oppose this bill, protect Americans’ privacy and constitutional rights and do not extend the FAA sunset until December 31, 2017. (Some reports state that the vote will actually be today, Wednesday, September 12^th.)

You may contact Representatives by phone or using Capwiz (Click on the Take Action button below “Ask Your U.S. Rep to Oppose FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization.”) Read on for more background information. 

Note: Congressman Ruppersberger is a co-sponsor of this bill. It is important to respectfully point out the concerns with this bill.

Thank you in advance for your advocacy efforts!

Background from the American Library Association:

Action Alert! Ask Your U.S. Rep to Attend IMLS Briefing

On September 13, the Institute of Museum and Library Services is holding a Congressional briefing on how libraries support workforce development. Please contact your U.S. Representative asking their office to send a staffer to this briefing.

Go to Capwiz and click on the Take Action button below “Ask Your U.S. Rep to Attend Workforce Development Briefing.” A letter with information about the briefing is provided.

For those of you wishing to call or send an email separately, here is the basic information:

Action Alert! Contact Senators re: Cybersecurity bill

Today, the Senate will be debating the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 (S 3414). Please call Senators Mikulski (202-224-4654) and Cardin (202-224-4524) and ask them to:

1. Vote YES on privacy amendments like the Franken-Paul amendment so that companies do not have  the overbroad authority to monitor and even block our private communications, and,
2. Vote NO on anti-privacy amendments like the McCain and Hutchison amendments that would allow the NSA and military to directly collect and use Americans’ personal internet information

For additional background information, please see the District Dispatch post.

Thank you in advance for any advocacy efforts!