10 Quick and Painless Steps to Effective Advocacy for Libraries from ALA Washington on Vimeo.
View this webinar to learn about ten easy actions, including writing personalized letters, building coalitions in your community and even using social media outlets to help develop and deliver your message. If America’s libraries are going to survive these difficult times, we need your voice – and your action.
Posted in Grassrooots & Advocacy, OGR
Tagged Advocacy, Advocacy Webinar, Grassroots, grassroots advocacy, Webinar
American Library Association advocates have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in Washington, DC, we just need to know how! ALA Advocacy Day participants will want to view this “what to know before you go” session. In this video, we review the five specific things you can do to ensure your legislators and their staff listen up and take notice on library policy issues. We also go over the most important things to know about your legislators, the logistics of a Capitol Hill meeting and how to develop a winning message, especially with new members of Congress. If you are an American Library Association Advocacy Day participant wondering what you can do to get the most out of your Advocacy Day experience, this session is for you.
You can also download the power point slide deck for your convenience.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jillian Kalonick
ALTAFF
PHILADELPHIA – Virtual Library Legislative Day is part of the American Library Association’s (ALA) National Library Legislative Day on May 10, when hundreds of library advocates will descend on Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and their staffs. Library advocates who cannot make it to Capitol Hill for the event can still be a part of the effort by calling and/or e-mailing their elected officials on May 10 – or any time the week of May 9-13.
The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), the ALA Washington Office, ALA Chapter Relations, and the ALA Office for Library Advocacy will lead Virtual Library Legislative Day, an opportunity for all library advocates to make their voices heard on a national level.
ALTAFF Executive Director Sally Gardner Reed encourages all advocates to take part in this united effort to ensure America’s libraries can continue to serve the public. “If citizens who care for libraries remain silent, it’s the same as saying they are okay with low budgets and closed libraries,” Reed said. “The only way for us to make a difference is to make our voices heard.”
National Library Legislative Day began in 1976. In 2003, Friends of Libraries U.S.A. began a virtual component to engage Friends of the Library groups, library advocates, and supporters around the country who could not travel to Washington, D.C. for the main event. Now its ninth consecutive year, the virtual campaign continues to support the efforts of those who attend this important day in Washington, D.C. and meet with their elected officials in person.
Talking points and links to contact information for members of Congress are available on the ALTAFF website (www.ala.org/altaff) and www.ilovelibraries.org. Both web sites also provide a flyer and bookmarks for library advocates to print, e-mail, or post on their websites to help spread the word in their communities.
In addition, a recorded webcast available on both websites highlights actions advocates can take to support the library community in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.ala.org/altaff or www.ilovelibraries.org.
More information about National Library Legislative Day, including a list of events for those who plan to participate in Washington, D.C., can be found online at http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/nlld/index.cfm.
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ALTAFF is a division of the American Library Association that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. ALTAFF brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/altaff, or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.
American Library Association advocates have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in Washington, DC, we just need to know how! ALA Advocacy Day participants will want to join this “what to know before you go” webinar. We will review the five specific things you can do to ensure your legislators and their staff listen up and take notice on library policy issues. We’ll also go over the most important things to know about your legislators, the logistics of a Capitol Hill meeting and how to develop a winning message, especially with new members of Congress. If you are an American Library Association Advocacy Day participant wondering what you can do to get the most out of your Advocacy Day experience, this session is for you.
Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
New Ideas for Connecting with 112th Congress Legislators: New Messages, Traditional Tactics from ALA Washington on Vimeo.
Perhaps you’ve seen that the recently released President’s budget proposes a $20 million cut to the IMLS program as well as consolidating the Improving School Literacy through Libraries program into other literacy efforts, meaning that school libraries will face much higher competition for much fewer funds.
Clearly, this budget cycle brings both fresh perspectives as well as fresh challenges. In this session we look at recent message trends and how to apply them successfully to make a difference in Washington DC. We also look at the federal budget process and what it means for you. Now more than ever Members of Congress and their staff need to hear from all parts of the library world — from directors to patrons to supporters and everyone in between. Play this session to learn the latest on what federal policy and funding issues may impact your library and get five key tips on making a difference in the new year.
Posted in Grassrooots & Advocacy, OGR
Tagged Advocacy, grassroots advocacy, library advocacy, Webinar