Library Legislative Day

MSLA/MLA Library Legislative Day Showcase:
Thursday April 2, 2020

We invite you to join us and we invite you to make a proposal to participate in our Showcase to demonstrate the importance of libraries to our elected officials
​
​SUBMIT a proposal

Date: Thursday, April 2, 2020
Location: State House, Boston, MA
Deadline for proposals: Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 4 p.m.
Questions? Contact Jayme Viveiros, jviveiros@sailsinc.org

The Massachusetts Library Association and the Massachusetts School Library Association are in the midst of planning for Library Legislative Day 2020.

In an effort to help our State Legislators understand why Massachusetts libraries need more funding, we are planning a small scale Library Showcase which will feature a limited number visual tabletop displays in the Grand Staircase area. Legislators and attendees will be able to visit these displays to get a snapshot about exciting and innovative programs in all types of Massachusetts libraries.

The Legislative Committee is calling for proposals from libraries to present ideas for displays. If your idea is accepted, you will be asked to coordinate the tabletop display and bring it to the State House on Thursday, April 2nd.

This is a great opportunity to share a special project, program or activity that your library offers and of which you are particularly proud. Priority will be given to proposals that highlight how a library responded to an important issue or problem in the local community, or the community at large (ie: opioid crisis, adult literacy, workforce development, etc).

Proposals are due by Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 4 p.m. The Legislative Committee will notify you whether or not your proposal has been accepted by March 1st.
Legislation Day 2018 on March 7, 2018 at the Massachusetts State House
Library Legislation Day











​SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVOCATE AWARD 2018
John Palfrey (center) received the MSLA award from MSLA President, Anita Cellucci (left) and Kathy Lowe, MSLA Executive Director (right) at the 2016 Library Legislation Day.

​
The Legislative Special Commission on School Library Services in Massachusetts was created by the Massachusetts Legislature in July 2014 to look at equity of access to school library programs in our public schools. The Commission completed its work in March 2018 and presented it to legislators at the 2018 Legislation Day.
The Commission has issued the following report:
*John Palfrey is the Head of School at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital Public Library of America, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and is a faculty co-director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. His research and teaching focus primarily on Internet law, intellectual property, and the potential of new technologies to strengthen democracies locally and around the world. His most recent book, BiblioTech: Why Libraries Matter More Than Ever in the Age of Google, argues that libraries are more than just book repositories and can become" bulwarks against some of the most crucial challenges of our age: unequal access to education, jobs, and information."  ​
Updated: February 2, 2020                          Page Editor: Deeth Ellis dellis@maschoolibraries.org and Georgina Trebbe gtrebbe@maschoolibraries.org