National Library Legislative Day 2013 – A look back

About a month ago, Maryland library advocates joined over 350 advocates from across the country to participate in National Library Legislative Day, an annual advocacy event coordinated by the American Library Association. Many of the legislator visits have occurred over the past month because of the conflict with the Maryland Library Association / Delaware Library Association Conference.

Overall, advocacy efforts were a success! Key issues included appropriations funding for public and school libraries and access to government research. We were able to reach out to newly elected Congressman John Delaney. We also received a compliment from one legislative assistant about how organized libraries are in their advocacy efforts. Some photos are available on the National Library Legislative Day web site.

Many thanks to everyone who participated and contributed to the success—either in person or virtually!

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!

 

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!

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.

Action Alert! Virtual Maryland Library Legislative Days 2011

Let your voice be heard!  The second Virtual Maryland Library Legislative Days are being held to coincide with the live Maryland Library Legislative Day advocacy event.  Between February 23^rd and March 2^nd, members of the Maryland library community—library staff, trustees, Friends groups, customers, volunteers—are encouraged to use Capwiz to write to their state legislators.  Please take the time during this week to send a personal message to your state representatives to share your story about the value of libraries!  To begin, go to Capwiz and click on the Take Action button below Maryland: Virtual Library Legislative Days.

Thank you in advance for your advocacy efforts!

Maryland Library Legislative Day 2011 – Coming soon!

 Maryland Library Legislative Day is coming up on Wednesday, February 23^rd.  Members of the Maryland library community take the opportunity once a year to make a strong presence in Annapolis and advocate for libraries.  This year’s events include:

• 8:00am – Briefing – Advocates arrive at the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library, Suite 303 of the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, for a briefing on current issues, advocacy strategies and what to expect from this legislative session.
• 10:00am – Proclamation of Maryland Library Day – The Senate President will proclaim the day as Maryland Library Day on the Senate floor.  Supporters should arrive outside the State House’s Senate balcony doors before 10:00am to get a seat when the doors open.  After the library community is acknowledged, people may quietly leave the balcony.
• 5:30pm – Reception – The day concludes with a reception in the President’s conference room of the Miller Senate Office Building.  Senators and Delegates have been invited to attend, along with any members of the Maryland library community.

Visits with legislators are scheduled throughout the day and are coordinated by members of the MLA Legislative Panel and the  Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators (MAPLA).  This provides a great opportunity to thank legislators for past support, talk about services the library provides to their constituents, promote the value of libraries and encourage support for libraries.

If you are unable to participate in any of these activities, the Legislative Panel will also be coordinating a Virtual Maryland Library Legislative Day.  Stay tuned for details about this advocacy event!

Maryland Library Legislative Day a success!

We wish to thank all those who participated in the live Maryland Library Legislative Day and the Virtual Maryland Library Legislative Days.  Your participation helped to increase awareness among our legislators of the importance of Libraries to Marylanders across the state.

Pictures of the live event will soon be posted on the web site of the Maryland Library Association.

If you have not already taken action for the Virtual Maryland Library Legislative Days, there is still time.  This online advocacy effort will continue through March 24th.