Please register to take part in Virtual Library Legislative Day (VLLD) during the week of May 2nd.

This is a chance to advocate for library programs at the federal level.

For instance:

The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is helping to bring attention to effective school library programs; we want to make sure as federal legislators are putting together implementation plans that they include school libraries.

In addition federal funding supports MeL resources in Michigan; without that funding - our students would not have the free access to the great resources provided by MeL. IMLS is an important federal agency and they provide great programs and resources. Our legislators need to hear that we support this funding and believe this funding is vital.

ALL libraries are important to our communities.

Please see the forwarded message from the American Library Association (ALA) about VLLD. Once you register (you don't have to be an ALA member to register and participate), ALA will send you some talking points and easy ways to get involved.

--Kathy

Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
MAME Advocacy Chair, Past-President 2014
School Librarian/Technology Integrationist

East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools
2012 State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner
kathyL@mimame.org
cell: 810-333-5873

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ALA Washington Office <districtdispatch@alawash.org>
Date: Thu, Apr 14, 2016 at 1:33 PM
Subject: Library advocates, you've been challenged!
To: kathyl@mimame.org

As part of National Library Legislative Day 2016 (NLLD), we are offering library advocates unable to attend in person the chance to participate through Virtual Library Legislative Day (VLLD)!

This year, we’re teaming up with the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) to help expand our efforts and take advantage of the momentum started by the nearly 400 library supporters who plan to attend NLLD. Their Chapters’ members are pledging their time to make calls, send emails, tweet, and otherwise raise awareness about library issues during the week of May 2nd. To date, the HPA has received pledges for nearly 500 actions from their members!

We think we can do our wizarding friends even better.

Over the next few weeks, please take a second to register and then ask everyone in your circles -- members, followers, patrons, fellow library staffers, and listservs -- to join us! We’ll follow up by sending out talking points and other handy resources you can use to advocate easily and effectively. We’ll also be including a link to a webstream of the National Library Legislative day program, live from Washington, on the morning of May 2nd. You'll get to hear our keynote speaker, former Congressman Rush Holt, and listen in on this year’s issue briefing.

There’s also a handy resource toolkit, put together by the Harry Potter Alliance, for librarians who may want to get younger advocates involved. You can also find out more by visiting the United for Libraries and the Harry Potter Alliance webpages, or by subscribing to the Action Center.

Please feel free to contact Lisa Lindle, Grassroots Communications Specialist for ALA Washington, if you have any questions.

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