[Libs-Or] Fwd: [grassroots] Town Hall Meeting Checklist

[Diedre Conkling]

This is the latest message from the ALA Washington Office about how you can
be a library advocate this summer.

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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:****

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*Step 1: *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: http://capwiz.com/ala/home/****

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*Step 2: *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. ****

**·         **For the latest issue briefs, click
here<http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ogr/issuebriefs/index.cfm>
****

**·         **To visit our Advocacy University page, which includes our
“Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit,” click
here<http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/advocacyuniversity/index.cfm>
****

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*Step 3: *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 21st century library can provide.****

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*Step 4: *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:****

**·         **For our “Get Legislators in Your Library” webinar, click
here<http://www.districtdispatch.org/2009/12/webinar-video-available-now-get-your-legislators-to-your-library/>
****

**·         **For a list of steps to take in setting up a Congressional
visit of your library, click
here<http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/federallegislation/getinvolved/grassroots/Setting_Up_a_Congressional_Tou.cfm>
****

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If you have any questions or need additional materials, contact Ted Wegner
in the ALA Washington Office at twegner at alawash.org or 800-941-8478.****

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Ted Wegner****

American Library Association****

Washington Office-Office of Government Relations****

1615 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., 1st Floor****

Washington, DC 20009-2520****

Phone: 202-628-8410****

Fax: 202-628-8419****

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-- 
*Diedre Conkling**
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR 97365
Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066
Work email**: **diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org*<diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org>
*
Home email: **diedre08 at gmail.com* <diedre08 at gmail.com>

 WAR IS OBSOLETE<http://www.facebook.com/pages/WAR-IS-OBSOLETE/297916183027>
Holding resentment is like eating poison and waiting for the other person to
keel over. - Unknown Author
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