Advocacy at www.ilovelibraries.org

Election Day is over once again.  Here in Connecticut we had some real battles, not enough ballots to vote on, and it was ruled we could wear WWW clothing to the polls.

While all of that is over, I urge you not to sit back.  Our battle to keep our libraries funded is not only on the local level.  Some of the sorely needed money is funded at the Federal level.  The site http://www.ilovelibraries.org/, part of American Library Association has some great information about advocacy for libraries and what we need to remind our legislators about in Washington.

At the Federal level, there is a grant called LSTA - or Library Services and Technology Act which was signed into law in 1996 by President Clinton.  It wasn't really "new" as it's predesessors were the Library Services Act and the Library Services and Construction Act.  This Act, LSTA, needs your support.  This grant helps funds all that is technology, and we all know that is important.  By clicking on the link above, you will be taken to the site and you can then hunt around. 

On of the links for this page allows you to send a prepared email to your Federal congress person.  It's great - except in my humble opinion - email stinks.  If you really want the elected offical to pay attention, take the note and send it to the local office.  That means they have to handle it in person and it is delivered in the "pouch" to your representative.  Even better, and this gets lots of attention - pick up the phone and call the local office or call Washington.  Don't be surprised that you'll speak with a staff member.  Staff members are the best. 

Several years ago, I was in Washington and 'stomping' on the Hill.  It was a lot of fun and we got a great chance to walk around.  What we found amazing, is how much staff wanted to talk with us, "the voters from home".  When we had the chance to speak with our representatives directly, they said that unfortunately they can not answer all emails, but getting a phone call means the most and they can get additional information right away.  On that last stomping visit - we were asking for our congress persons to sign on to a 'friend of letter'.  Staff was unaware of the "letter" and before the day was out, (we got an email two hours later) the congress person had signed on.  It works!!

If you have the chance - pick up the phone - call Washington and let them know that your library depends on the LSTA grants. 

Here's the "message" from the ALA site, consider sending or calling your Legislators today.

I am writing to urge you to support $300 million for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the FY 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. Across the country, countless libraries are facing state and local budget cuts while experiencing sharp increase in patron traffic. America's libraries need your support now more than ever.

Your constituents depend on their local libraries every day,perhaps in ways you may not realize. Sixty-seven percent of our nation's libraries report that they provide the only free access to computers and the Internet in their communities, but libraries provide more than access. Within the last two years, libraries have experienced significant increases to the areas of support to the public they offer the greatest increases of services have been in helping patrons complete online job applications, create resumes, and access job databases and searches. Unfortunately, during this time of increased demand for public libraries, library budgets all across the country are being drastically cut. This culture of rising demand and lowering budgets has created a 'perfect storm' for America's libraries.

Thank you, and I hope that you will support libraries in FY 2011.