ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries 78/C&RL News Advocating equity: ALA’s new cam paign By Linda K. Wallace This year’s National Library Week is April 14–20 I nformation is the currency o f democracy. Just as libraries have traditionally provided books and other information resources for all people regardless of their ability to pay, today’s libraries must also offer public access to elec­ tronic sources. Led by President Betty J. Turock, the Ameri­ can Library Association (ALA) is focusing this year’s advocacy campaign on “Equity on the Information Superhighway.” “Nothing is more important to the future of our country than equal access to information for all people,” said Turock. “Our goal is to make sure that every American has access to information online at their school, public, col­ lege, and university libraries.” Summit to e x p lo re technology In addition to a 10-city media tour featuring Turock and other library leaders, several key activities are planned to help deliver the equity message. These include a summit with experts from various fields discussing the impact of new inform ation technology; an Equity Petition to be sent to m em bers o f Congress; and “Log o n @ the Library Day,” designed to spotlight the role of libraries in putting the pub­ lic online. The summit titled “A Na­ tion Connected: Defining the Public Interest in the Information Superhigh­ w a y ” w ill ta k e p la ce F eb ru ary 20 a t th e Annenberg Center in Rancho Mirage, Califor­ nia. Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree will be the moderator with Turock serving as chair. Panelists will include Arno Penzias, Nobel Prize-winner and vice-president o f AT&T Labs; Andrew Blau, director, Communications Policy Program for the Benton Foundation; Esther Dyson, president of ED venture Holdings and newly appointed chair of the Electronic Fron­ tier Foundation; Craig Howe, director of the D’Arcy McNickle Center for the History of the American Indian; Reed Tuckson, president, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science; Herbert Schiller, professor of commu­ nications, University of California at San Diego; and Anne Branscomb, communications consult­ ant at the Harvard University Program on In- formation Resources Policy. The summit is designed to serve as a model for a series o f “m ini-sum m its” to b e h eld throughout the country. The proceedings will be videotaped and highlights made available. A “white paper” with reaction statements by library leaders will be pub­ lished and distributed widely to policy-makers, the media, and others. The proceedings will also serve as the focus o f discussion at the Presi­ d e n t’s Program during the ALA Annual Conference in New York, July 4– 10, 1996. Support the Equity Petition drive The Equity Petition aims to collect signatures from all Equity on the Information Super­ highway Linda K. Wallace is director o f the ALA Public Inform ation Office; e-mail: linda.wallace@ala.org mailto:linda.wallace@ala.org F eb ru a ry 1 9 9 6 / 79 those w ho agree there must be equity on the information superhighway and that it must b e­ gin with our nation’s libraries. The goal is to deliver the petitions to key members o f Capitol Hill o n National Library Legislative Day, May 7. The Equity Petition is available online from the ALA homepage at http://www.ala.org. Cam­ era-ready art is available from the ALA Public Information Office. “ Log on @ the L ib ra ry” All types o f libraries—academic, public, and school—are invited to join in taking members of the public o n a cruise dow n the information superhighway as part o f “Log on @ the Library Day” to be held Tuesday, April 16, during Na­ tional Library Week. “Log on Day” will be promoted to national media as a way to highlight the wealth o f in­ formation available online and the role o f li­ braries in providing public access. Turock noted that many academic librarians have b een leaders in providing online connec­ tions and encouraged them to lend their ex­ pertise to other librarians w ho may n eed assis­ tance. Those w ithout connections can ask their colleagues, com puter stores, or other volun­ teers to help them stage demonstrations and invite administrators to see for themselves w hy their library should be connected. A “tour guide,” including the White House, Congress, a jobs bulletin board, and other key sites, will be available at http://w w w .ala.org/ logon day and other servers across the coun­ try. A free “Advocating Equity” tip sheet with camera-ready art for the Equity Petition, sample media materials, and other information is avail­ able from the ALA Public Information Office at (800) 545-2433, ext. 5044/5041; fax: (312) 944- 8520; e-mail: pio@ala.org. 1 0 things yo u can do 1) Start collecting signatures on the Eq­ uity Petition. Involve students and faculty. Post copies in the student union and other campus and community gathering places. Circulate the petition at speaking engage­ ments or meetings that you attend. 2) Suggest “Equity on the Information Su­ perhighway” and public access to electronic information as a topic for class discussions and campus forums. 3) Issue a news release about “Log on Day” to campus and community media. Sub­ mit a letter to the editor or opinion column to the newspaper. Schedule radio and TV interviews to talk about “Why Americans can’t wait for equity on the information su­ perhighw ay.” 4) Stage a demonstration of the informa­ tion superhighway in student, faculty, and community centers such as the student union o r a shopping mall. Work with other types of libraries. Get students involved. Have p e­ titions ready to sign. 5) Host special “Log on Day” dem onstra­ tio n s fo r ca m p u s d ec isio n -m a k ers an d funders, students, faculty, administrative and support staff. You may also w ant to invite the mayor and other community VIPs. Serve refreshments. Be sure to have those attend­ ing sign the Equity Petition. 6) Use “Freedom of Information Day” on March 16 and “Log on @ the Library Day” on April 16 during National Library Week 1996 as prime opportunities to collect Eq­ uity Petition signatures. 7) Post copies o f the Equity Petition on your campus electronic bulletin boards and listservs. 8) Write a letter to your state or federal representatives urging their support for fund­ ing and policies that support libraries as on- ramps to the information superhighway. 9) Send signed petitions no later than May 1, 1996, to the ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Wash­ ington, DC 20004. 10) Assemble a delegation of student and faculty library advocates to deliver signed petitions to members of Congress on Na­ tional Library Legislative Day, Tuesday, May 7, in Washington D.C. http://www.ala.org http://www.ala.org/ mailto:pio@ala.org