[Libs-Or] INFORMATION Fwd: [District Dispatch] Library Advocacy Day rally [video]

[Diedre Conkling]

See what some of your collegues were doing yesterday.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jacob Roberts <jroberts at alawash.org>
Date: Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Subject: [District Dispatch] Library Advocacy Day rally [video]
To: district at ala.org


FULL POST w/HYPERLINKS & VIDEO: http://bit.ly/9yotrd
--
District Dispatch has posted a new item, 'Library Advocacy Day rally
[video]'

Library Advocacy Day Rally from ALA Washington on Vimeo.
The American Library Association’s Library Advocacy Day rally on Capitol
Hill
was a success thanks to the participation of over 1,600 ALA members and
advocates of all ages who braved the 90-degree heat on June 29 to take part
in
the largest federal advocacy event in ALA history.

“As library advocates in your states, you represent Americans in every
community across this country – people who need their libraries,” ALA
President Camila Alire told the crowd as she opened the rally.

“You have all read the headlines about the funding cuts in libraries across
the country. You’ve lived those cuts,” Alire said, adding the advocacy day
was the ALA’s chance to make sure Congress also knew about the needs of our
nation’s libraries of all kinds.

Alire emphasized the main themes of the advocacy day including increasing
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding to $300 million for
FY2011
and including support for school librarians in the upcoming reauthorization
of
the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Pumping up the crowd for
their
meetings on the Hill following the rally, she led the group with the rally
cry,
“We’re going to tell them!”

Special speakers at the event were best-selling and “banned books” young
adult author Lauren Myracle, as well as long-time Congressional champions of
libraries, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI-3).

Reed reinforced the need to increase LSTA funding and to include school
libraries in ESEA, referring to school libraries as “the heart and soul” of
education. Reed’s speech also touched upon the important role public
libraries play in our weak economy and how Congress must step up to address
the
impact budget cuts are having on libraries.

“We have to do more,” Reed said, adding that Congress must recognize that
libraries are essential to civic life and engagement.

Ehlers, who will retire from Congress at the end of the year, shared a
personal
story about how libraries and reading shaped his life during a period of
time
in his childhood when illness kept him from attending school.

Ehlers is one of the strongest allies libraries have in Congress, according
to
ALA Washington Office Executive Director Emily Sheketoff.

“We have always been able to count on Congressman Ehlers to insert libraries
into Congressional discussions and to remind his colleagues of the
invaluable
role libraries play in education, civic engagement and access to information
and technology,” Sheketoff said. “He will be greatly missed.”

In honor of Ehlers’ years of leadership, the ALA presented him with a
certificate of appreciation.

ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels served as the final rally speaker
and empowered the state delegations meeting with Congress to remember they
represent the millions of school children and Americans who depend on
library
services every day

You may view the latest post at
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=5089

You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates
are
posted.
Best regards,
Jacob Roberts
jroberts at alawash.org



-- 
Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR  97365
Work phone & fax:  541-265-3066
Work email:  diedre at beachbooks.org
Home email:  diedre08 at gmail.com
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