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Ad-vo-ca-cy n. The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support. American Heritage Dictionary, Third edition
What is Library Advocacy?
On a basic level, advocacy is simply voicing your support for libraries and encouraging others to do the same.
You might encourage them to use the library. Library use by itself can often turn other people into supporters. You might voice your support to a Mayor, or a School Principal, a State Representative, or a U.S. Senator. You might speak out as an individual or you might lend your voice to other voices in a more organized campaign for general support or for support of a more specific project.
The best way to influence those who control the policies and the purse strings is for those who use and value library services to speak out. The more people who speak out, the stronger the voice of libraries.
Grassroots advocacy is said to be the key to the success of our libraries. In an increasingly complex world, with fierce competition for funding, the library community must stand up and speak out for America’s libraries. -- from www.ala.org
You Can Make a Difference
Your voice is crucial in making the case for libraries. You – the library patron, the library Friend, the library lover – are the heart and soul of the library community, and you can capture the attention of decision-makers like no one else. Your voice can be made stronger if many individuals such as you stand up and speak out in a unified manner.
Critical to library advocacy is the idea that library staff, trustees and Friends must work together to make their voices heard. Once community leaders and citizens at large are convinced about the importance and necessity of libraries, they can begin to speak out for libraries at the state and national levels.
We hear people say, “Everyone loves libraries.” This is a true statement, and yet there are threats to the very survival of libraries. They are taken for granted, expected to always be there; they are the targets of reduced funding when compared to other “more essential” services, and they are the brunt of questions about their basic values. Everyone loves libraries, but libraries can't live on love alone. The library community needs to grow this grassroots effort to ensure that there is a future—a bright future—for libraries of all kinds. -- from www.ala.org
How Do I Begin?
The FLLS Advocacy Resources section of the web site provides information to help you on your way to becoming an effective public library advocate. There are tips on effective letter writing as well as sample letters, contact information for legislators from your district, and links to other resources that can help you express your support for libraries. Just click here to get started.