ALA 2010: A First-Ever Advocacy Rally During a Conference
By Norman Oder, LJ, with Carrie Netzer Wajda June 29th 2010| Photo by Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images |
On a sweltering Washington summer day, and with the support of some library supporters in Congress, a sea of red t-shirted library advocates gathered today on Capitol Hill for the first-ever national Library Advocacy Day, on the closing day of the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference.
Some 1600 conference attendees preregistered and several hundred more people showed up without registering, according to Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the ALA's Washington Office. (LJ's observer on the ground thought the official numbers were a bit inflated.)
While the number was a fraction of the 26,000 people at the conference, Sheketoff estimated that the total was more than three times the number at ALA's annual Library Legislative Day, typically held in May.
"We're hoping people who came to this really see how much fun advocacy can be," she told LJ, "so that we'll be growing a whole new crop of advocates."
The issues
After the rally, attendees fanned out to visit their local representatives, carrying palm cards that reminded them:
- 1) To seek $300 million for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), up from $225 million, and $100 million for Improving Literacy Through School Libraries
- 2) To ensure that, in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), school libraries be staffed by accredited librarians
- 3) To stress the concept of Net Neutrality, so that access—including to educational programming—is not regulated based on the nature or source of that content or service
Consonant with recent findings that the most important role for library computers is supporting job-seekers, followed by access to online government information, Sheketoff noted that LSTA is used in states to pay for databases used by job-seekers.
"Congress represents their constituents, and if they are convinced our message is what their constituents want, they'll be responsive," she observed.
At the rally
While the crowd at the rally was mostly enthusiastic, it was so hot many that many library advocates refused to stand in the sun to listen to the speakers. Rather, they opted to stand in the shade some 20 to 30 feet away. (A few even got off the bus, and turned right around.)
Children's author Lauren Myracle, whose books have often been challenged, read first from her forthcoming book.
"You guys are brave enough to fight for what you believe in," said Myracle, who's found allies in librarians defending her books.
Outgoing ALA president Camila Alire, who's made advocacy a priority, then got to speak, before the guests of honor arrived.
Congressional speakers
Then Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), the 2002 LJ Politician of the Year, arrived. "As millions of Americans struggle with the worst economic situation since the 1930s, they're turning to libraries not just for diversion but for the tools to get them back in the workforce," he observed.
"This is not just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do. We've got to invest in this extraordinary productive mechanism, the library," he added. "The cost of ignorance is much more great and much more destructive than the cost of libraries."
Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI) spoke next, "You have to work actively within the community to get community support. There's no other answer. Also you have to work with local politicians to make sure they support libraries."
"So get involved," he urged the audience. "Become politically astute... raise support for libraries and money will roll in—after you develop the support."
Prepping for takeoff
Myracle and Alire both got to speak again. "As library advocates in your state you represent every library user in your community," Alire said. "You know they need libraries not just for books but for services that are a lifeline in this troubled economy."
Alire led a cheer: "What do we want?"
"More money!"
"When do we want it?"
"Now!"
But the proof will be in those individual visits to Congressional offices, and in the follow-up in the coming months.
After all, ALA gave out 5000 "Vote for Libraries" t-shirts during the conference.
Visit ALA Annual Conference News for ongoing coverage of the conference by the editors of Library Journal and School Library Journal. Find shots of various ALA 2010 conference happenings on LJ's Flickr page.
