News
and upcoming events:
2012 Postcard
Campaign:
Please join our 2012 postcard campaign
and let your legislators know why you need your library! We'll provide the
postcards and deliver them for you. Postcards and other
advocacy materials will be available at local libraries
soon.
You can also email your
legislators right now by clicking the "Contact Your
Elected Officials" button to the right. If you have
time, a full letter and/or phone call is even better! See our
Public
Officials Guide for their contact information.
If you'd like to receive postcards and informational pamphlets
with our legislative priorities and talking points to
hand out directly, we're always happy to supply copies! Please contact Corinne Weible at
cweible@flls.org
if interested.
Join us in
Albany on March 6:
Reserve your spot on the bus now for Advocacy Day on
March 6, 2012, so that you can join us in Albany to meet
with your legislators in person. We'll coordinate the
appointments and cover transportation costs - just bring
your passion for libraries! For details, please contact
Michelle Taber at mtaber@flls.org.
Snapshot NY Day:
FLLS is also
organizing a systemwide
Snapshot NY
Day in mid-February at all local libraries. This
event will try to document how essential each library is
by collecting statistics, comments, and
photographs/videos from patrons. Please stay tuned for
more details!
Why be a
library advocate?
Because
we can't live on love alone.
Libraries are a vital
community resource for everyone, everywhere. They offer
equal and open access to the resources that communities
need, and play an important role in giving everyone a
chance to succeed.
During these tough
economic times, people need their library more than
ever. They rely on the library to provide computer and
job training programs, homework assistance, health care
information, free education resources, and more. In 82%
of rural communities, the public library is the one
place where anyone can get free computer and Internet
access.
Despite record increases in
library usage, our libraries are struggling to meet
community demand due to critical funding issues. Recent
state library aid cuts have brought our current funding down
to a level not seen since the early 1990s. Without adequate
support, the library resources that our community members
depend upon may disappear. Please help by taking a
few minutes to speak
up for your library today!
How you can help:
1.
Contact your legislators
by email, phone, or mail.
2.
Join FLLS at the yearly
Legislative
Advocacy Day
to speak with your officials in person.
3.
Stay informed about library issues and what you can do
to help by:
~
reading talking points,
~
becoming a Facebook fan of FLLS,
~
signing
up for the NYLA Action E-List.
4.
Write letters to the editor.
5.
Promote the value of the library at local government
meetings and school board meetings.
6.
Contact your local library about how to get involved.
Opportunities might include volunteering your professional
skills, shelving books, or joining/starting a local Friends
group.
7.
Speak up at every opportunity! Share your concerns with
friends, family members and neighbors. Encourage them to
become library users if they aren't already - it's often
the best way to win new supporters.
For more ideas, please browse our our full
Advocacy Resource
List.
