ALA's National Library Legislative Day Draws 361
By Michael Kelley May 11, 2011Library advocates converged on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. earlier this week to encourage lawmakers to pass federal legislation crucial to the country's libraries.
The American Library Association's National Library Legislative Day drew 361 participants on May 9 and 10, and it focused on a variety of topics. But the big takeaway, according to Emily Sheketoff, the executive director of the ALA's Washington office, was that librarians and their supporters need to appreciate the importance of advocacy.
"The high point was the new commitment by the ALA's division leadership to come and talk about their issues with members of the administration and Congress," Sheketoff said. "At their meetings they saw lots of other groups in the hallways, and people don't understand how many other groups like us are up there asking for help," she said.
"Our commitment has to be much stronger and sustained in order to get the support that libraries and their communities need," Sheketoff said. "There were a lot more friends and trustees this year, and that was great. But we need many, many more. It's not enough for just the librarians to come; we need to have the people who are impacted by our services, who can talk about that impact," she said.
Before fanning out to meet with representatives and senators of their respective states, the participants were briefed by staff from the ALA Washington office as well as ALA consultants Vic Klatt and Danica Petroshius, partners at Penn Hill Group.
Among the briefings, the FY12 appropriation for the Library Services and Technology Act loomed large, but it will not be resolved until a decision is made about raising the national debt limit.
"I thought some of the presentations they made gave some excellent background and even went beyond the briefing papers," Vivian Wynn, a retired assistant director of the Nashville public library who was the coordinator for the contingent from Tennessee, told LJ. Wynn's 11-member contingent, which included five first-time participants, met with both of that state's senators.
"I've been to this event many, many times and I thought the attendance said it all," Wynn said. "When you can have the same attendance when things are tough I think it indicates how important it is, and we had a ton of new people which is a healthy sign" she said.
The largest delegation, about 30 strong, came from North Carolina. The state sent a busload of heavy hitters, including Mary Boone, the state librarian, Karen Foss, the president of the North Carolina Public Library Directors Association, and Harriet Smith, the chair of the state library commission.
"I have always believed that you have to tell your story, you have to find a way to tell your story with passion," Carol Walters, the director of the Sandhill Regional Library System and the chairperson of the delegation, told LJ. "I feel obligated to not only have a group go but to have a well-informed group go because LSTA funding affects not only North Carolina but our entire nation," she said.
North Carolina's budget for FY12 is currently in the state senate and the proposal on the table calls for a 15 percent cut, Walters said.
On May 9 there was a reception at which Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz) received a public service award from ALA's Citizen for Libraries division (formerly the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations).
"They did a great job letting Congress know what is happening and where we need their help," Sheketoff said of the participants.
