Library Legislative Day

Library Legislative Day - March 5, 2019 - Cosponsored by MSLA and MLA

​Thanks for your support at Library Legislative Day on Tuesday, March 5, 2019!  Library Legislative Day was co-sponsored by MLA and MSLA.  

Members spoke to legislators about the importance of libraries in their community and asked for their support for the legislative agenda and for MSLA's priority of implementing the recommendations of the Special Commission of School Library Services in Massachusetts. See Talking Points ​

Carrie Tucker, MSLA President presented a Commendation from the American Association of School Librarians to the Massachusetts Legislature to Rep. Alice Peisch in recognition of the Legislature's work calling the Special Commission on School Libraries in Massachusetts.
​
​School libraries represented at the Library Legislative Day Showcase in the Great Hall.  We showed our Legislators the best of school library services and innovations!  

MSLA was a part of the legislative briefings and first-time attendee orientation.  

For next year: 

We suggest making an appointment to visit your legislators a week or two ahead of time.  If your colleagues or  library users can join you, that's great, bring them to meet your elected officials.  invite your legislators to join you at lunch and to visit the showcase.

If you have questions about Library Legislative Day, please contact Greg Pronevitz, MSLA Communications Specialist (gpronevitz@maschoollibraries.org).
2019 Tentative Schedule of Events
9:00                 Check-in Grand Staircase 
9:00 - 11:15     Library Showcase Great Hall
9:30 - 10:00   Legislative Briefing Rm. TBD
10:00 - 10:30 First Time Attendee Program Rm. TBD
11:15 - 11:45       Legislative Briefing  Rm. TBD
12:00 - 1:00     Luncheon and Remarks Great Hall
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: March 9, 2019                           Page Editor: Ann Perham aperham@maschoolibraries.org