Useful advocacy tools – hot off the press from your ALA Washington Office! Kathi Kromer, Executive Director, shared some great news and amazing resources this morning at “Leadership & ALSC.” Visit http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/wo to download a 2019 ALA Year-Round Advocacy Checklist with a Congressional Calendar on the back, a visual guide to how “ALA Advocates on the Path to Federal Appropriations,” and more.
Kathi shared that during the 115th Congress that just ended, there were 13,556 bills introduced, of which only 443 became law. But out of those, 5 that were ALA priorities became law! This is a great success, and something they hope to build on this coming year with the new 116th Congress. To welcome the 116th Congress, the most diverse our country’s ever seen, the ALA DC Office has 3D printed “Library Challenge” coins they are going to give new Congress members. These coins were made at DC Public Library, and will help highlight the free technology that is available to all patrons at public libraries around the nation.
Kathi also reminded us that when the DC office sends out a call to ALA members to reach our Congressional representatives, they really mean it! ALA DC office is thoughtful about when they reach out to members and ask us to contact our legislators; they will only contact us at strategic times when they really know our advocacy will be the most effective. So when the ask comes out – it’s important! Take the time to make a call or send an email.
Thank you to Kathi and the full staff at ALA Washington for doing important work for libraries year-round.