Advocacy Matters

Provides practical approaches and tips (real-world examples, best practices) to use in advocating for your library.

Join us for Library Advocacy Day!

By Marci Merola, Director, ALA Office for Library Advocacy

It’s already May, the time of year when many library advocates typically pack their bags and head to Washington, D.C. to ALA’s Library Legislative Day, coordinated by the ALA Washington Office. Except this year, ALA has opted to take advantage of the perfect storm of its Annual Conference occurring in the backyard of our nation’s capitol and a crisis in library funding at a time when usage is at an all-time high. This year only, National Library Legislative Day has been moved to the close of the 2010 ALA Annual Conference and renamed Library Advocacy Day.  The goal is for thousands of library advocates from around the country to rally on the U.S. Capitol Hill grounds, and hear from members of the U.S. Congress and other supporters who will speak about policies favoring libraries.

“It has never been more important that library supporters publicly show their support,” says Keith Michael Fiels, ALA Executive Director. “With Library Advocacy Day we have a great opportunity ahead of us to make a difference, because numbers really do count.”

The rally will take place at 11 a.m. at Upper Senate Park, on Capitol Hill. After the rally, participants who have pre-registered with their coordinators (from their respective state chapter association) will meet with their members of Congress and staffs to talk about the needs and concerns of the libraries in their communities.

The Washington Office will host a series of presentations to prepare first-time attendees. “What to Know Before You Go” will take place on Saturday, June 26, 2010. Also, brief presentations will be held Saturday through Monday at the ALA Pavilion’s Advocacy Hour, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. All events take place in the Convention Center.

“In this year’s political climate, it’s more important than ever before that we bring numbers to the Capitol,” says Kristin Murphy, Government Relations Specialist.

“They say the world is run by people who just show up,” adds Keith Michael Fiels, “Now is our chance to get involved.”

The rally is free and open to the public. You do not have to attend the ALA Annual conference to participate.  However, the ALA Washington Office prefers that you register at http://www.ala.org/lad (or do so when you register for the ALA Conference).

To find out who your state coordinator is, visit this website: http://tinyurl.com/ye7w7mb.

For more information on Library Advocacy Day, visit http://www.ala.org/lad.