<div class="gmail_quote"><br>This is the latest message from the ALA Washington Office about how you can be a library advocate this summer.</div><div class="gmail_quote"> </div><div class="gmail_quote">----------------------------<br>
</div><div lang="EN-US" class="gmail_quote" vlink="purple" link="blue"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now that the debt ceiling crisis has been “resolved,” library supporters need to focus on how we save funding for crucial library programs like the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and school libraries. There will be deep financial cuts resulting from the debt agreement and we must work to show why library finding is not the place to make these cuts. Here’s how you can help in the month of August:<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u></u> <u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Step 1: </b>Contact your member’s district office to see if they have any town hall meetings coming up. You can find contact information for your Congressional representatives at this site: <a href="http://capwiz.com/ala/home/" target="_blank">http://capwiz.com/ala/home/</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Step 2: </b>Think of examples and stories of how your local library provides essential services to your community. Emphasize how these services are free to users and of a minimal cost to taxpayers. Show your elected officials how cutting library funding hurts the community, especially in this tough economy. The ALA Washington Office has resources for you to use. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p><u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><u></u>For the latest issue briefs, click <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ogr/issuebriefs/index.cfm" target="_blank">here</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p><u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><u></u>To visit our Advocacy University page, which includes our “Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit,” click <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/advocacyuniversity/index.cfm" target="_blank">here</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Step 3: </b>Attend a town hall meeting to share stories and information with your elected official. As a bonus, you will not only be informing your official but also other citizens in the audience who may not know about all the resources a 21<sup>st</sup> century library can provide.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Step 4: </b>Invite your elected official to visit a public or school library to show them firsthand the services libraries offer. The following resources can help you set up your meeting:<u></u><u></u></p>
<p><u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><u></u>For our “Get Legislators in Your Library” webinar, click <a href="http://www.districtdispatch.org/2009/12/webinar-video-available-now-get-your-legislators-to-your-library/" target="_blank">here</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p><u></u><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span>·<span style="font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><u></u>For a list of steps to take in setting up a Congressional visit of your library, click <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/federallegislation/getinvolved/grassroots/Setting_Up_a_Congressional_Tou.cfm" target="_blank">here</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you have any questions or need additional materials, contact Ted Wegner in the ALA Washington Office at <a href="mailto:twegner@alawash.org" target="_blank">twegner@alawash.org</a> or <a href="tel:800-941-8478" target="_blank" value="+18009418478">800-941-8478</a>.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Ted Wegner<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">American Library Association<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Washington Office-Office of Government Relations<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1615 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., 1st Floor<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Washington, DC 20009-2520<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Phone: <a href="tel:202-628-8410" target="_blank" value="+12026288410">202-628-8410</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fax: <a href="tel:202-628-8419" target="_blank" value="+12026288419">202-628-8419</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div><em><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Diedre Conkling</span></em><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
<em><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Lincoln County Library District</span></em><br><em><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">P.O. Box 2027</span></em><br><em><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Newport, OR 97365</span></em><br>
<em><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066</span></em><br><em><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Work email</span></em></span></i><em><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal;">: </span></em><a href="mailto:diedre@lincolncolibrarydist.org" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><font color="#0000ff">diedre@lincolncolibrarydist.org</font></span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br>
<em><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Home email: </span></em></span></i><a href="mailto:diedre08@gmail.com" target="_blank"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">diedre08@gmail.com</span></em></a></div>
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<div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/WAR-IS-OBSOLETE/297916183027" target="_blank"><font color="#3b5998">WAR IS OBSOLETE</font></a></div><span>Holding resentment is like eating poison and waiting for the other person to keel over. - Unknown Author</span></h6>
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