Advocacy

Advocacy Chair:
Georgina Trebbe
Minnechaug High School
gtrebbe@maschoolibraries.org
Georgina Trebbe
Co-chair: Georgina Trebbe Minnechaug HS
January 8, 2021: AASL Letter to the Biden-Harris Transition Team
Today, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), the American Library Association (ALA), 48 state-level school library associations, and the leadership of the AASL Chapters Assembly sent a letter to President-Elect Joe Biden's transition team stressing how school librarians are an equity-oriented solution to some of the most pressing concerns facing educators at this moment. The full letter can be read here. 
The letter asks President-Elect Biden and incoming Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to include the following priorities as they lay the groundwork for a Department of Education focused on equity for all learners: 
  • provide Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) guidance that addresses the role of school librarians 
  • improve National Center for Education Statistic (NCES) data collection to accurately reflect the presence of a certified school librarian at the building level 
  • adjust the NCES definition of school librarian to reflect their instructional role and national standards 
  • ensure that, as teachers, school librarians are eligible for the same federal supports as their colleagues 
"The association and members of the profession are ecstatic to learn that the Department of Education will focus on equity under President Biden," said AASL President Kathy Carroll. "With the support of the AASL Chapters, our national organization has sent a strong message outlining the necessity of qualified school librarians to ensure the realization of the ED's vision. We look forward to working closely with Secretary Cardona to ensure every student has a school librarian and making a reality of our own vision statement: 'every school librarian is a leader; every learner has a school librarian." 
July 7, 2020 - Advocacy Tool Kit for at Risk Libraries and Positions
As a result of the Covid-19 crisis, many school districts are heading into uncertain times. In anticipation of a possible increase in budget cuts, which may put libraries and librarian positions in jeopardy, MSLA has created a form to streamline the collection of data about positions that are at-risk. Additionally we will continue to provide our members with materials for advocacy in your school and school district. ​
  • Advocacy Request Form- MSLA leadership is collecting information about staffing changes in school libraries across Massachusetts this school year. Please complete this form if your position or physical library has changed in ways that impede your teaching and programming. We will not share this with anyone or contact your school or district unless you request it. If you indicate you are seeking assistance in advocating for school library services and/or school library positions,  the Massachusetts School Library Association stands ready to assist!
  • An Advocacy letter from MSLA - A statement that can be presented to school boards and administrators in support of school library programs.
  • Everyday Advocacy page  - Offers ideas for advocacy throughout the school year with links to studies, research and opportunties to get involved.

May 20, 2020 - Call to Action! from President Laura Luker (excerpted from her letter to members)

Last week nearly 400 Massachusetts library workers and supporters gathered virtually to urge state legislators to support the Library Legislative Agenda the Commonwealth’s libraries at Virtual Library Legislative Day.  There was a strong sense of urgency because school and public libraries - vital and essential institutions - need support.  State support for libraries more important than ever, especially to school libraries with support for online databases and ebooks.
  • Ask your State Representatives and Senators for your home and school’s location to support all of the lines in the Library Legislative Agenda to the best of their ability.   Let’s make sure state funding for libraries is supported as use increases during the current economic crisis.
  • We’re urging you to call upon your elected officials to support libraries!  We suggest including information about why you believe that libraries are important in your message.
  • You can find contact information for your State Legislators at LINK to call their office or send them an email, or
  • You can visit the Massachusetts Library Association’s Engage site to send a prepared message that you can customize with a sentence about your library.  It only takes a minute! at LINK.

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April 14, 2020: Congressional leadership has started work on a new COVID-19 relief package, and we are working to ensure libraries of all types are included. Today, we need your help to get the library message to Congress.
Reps. Andy Levin (D-MI), Don Young (R-AK), and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) are circulating a Dear Colleague letter calling for $2 billion in emergency funding for libraries through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The funding would be available through the Library Services and Technology Act grants to states program, ensuring that libraries everywhere will have access to support. Please email your representative in the House and urge them to sign and support America's libraries. 
Feburary 1, 2020 - There are  important upcoming library advocacy events that would greatly benefit from MSLA member participation, such as Library Legislative Day and Legislative Breakfasts. Consider:
Sen. Amy Kloubuchar (D-MN) has introduced a bill outlining the importance of digital and media literacy and providing potential funding for states! There are seven senate sponsors, but none from Massachusetts. Contact Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren and ask them to add their names to the list! Find out more about the bill here.
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As of January 6, 2020, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is offering more resources. This is the result of the national increase in funding for the  Institute of Museum & Library Services (read more below). What this means for your library:
  • Opposing Viewpoints (Gale) is back!  
Four new databases:
  • Career Transitions (Gale) 
  • HeritageQuest Online (ProQuest) 
  • Science Database (ProQuest) 
  • Research Companion (ProQuest) 

Read detailed descriptions below. To get links for these resources go to MBLC Website.


FROM ALA Advocacy 1/3/2020:
​The American Library Association advocacy called on you frequently in 2019 - to tweet, to email, to act, and to give. In the first few days of 2020, we wanted to be sure to report back, to let you know how it went, and to thank you.

As you know, our goal was to restore library funding after the White House proposed elimination for the third time last March. Short version: we did it and got a record increase!

Here are some quick highlights:
  • We secured a $10 million increase for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, including $6.2 million for the Library Services and Technology Act - the largest increase in LSTA funding in 12 years.
  • We protected the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program from elimination, safeguarding $27 million in funding for school libraries.
  • New advocates from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C. joined the #FundLibraries campaign.
  • Every member of Congress heard from ALA and our advocates about the importance of libraries and their impact in communities across the country. Without a doubt, this is the reason why library funding has steadily grown over the past three years.
In addition to your work on the #FundLibraries campaign, you stepped up big time to support the #eBooksForAll campaign - with 236,858 signatures and counting - helped to pass the GREAT Act, prepared libraries across the country for the 2020 Census, and continued pushing for increased library funding at the state and local levels.
We really just want to say thank you.

We say it a lot, but that's because it's true: we couldn't do any of this without you.

A big congratulations to you, ALA advocates, for these impressive and hard-fought victories. Thanks to your year-round advocacy, you have made these successes possible.

Let's get 2020 off to a strong start by thanking your elected officials for supporting library funding and sharing ALA's 2020 Congressional Calendar with your colleagues and planning how you can continue to engage year-round with your elected officials!

We look forward to building on these accomplishments in 2020 and seeing you at National Library Legislative Day in May.
Thanks again,
The ALA Advocacy Team
PS - Please take a minute to send a tweet to your elected officials today, thanking them for their work to #FundLibraries.

Updated: January 8, 2021                          Page Editor: Georgina Trebbe gtrebbe@maschoolibraries.org