nov06c.indd


Andy Bridges W a s h i n g t o n  H o t l i n e  

Advocacy: Key to your library’s success 
Advocacy is a word you might hear on a 
regular basis, but might not know exactly 
what it means in relation to libraries. On a 
basic level, advocacy is simply voicing your 
support for your library and encouraging 
others to do the same. It comes in the form 
of letting people know what new resources 
are available in your library. It means start­
ing a dialogue within your organization, or 
with a state representative or a U.S. senator. 
It might mean speaking out as an individual 
or lending a voice to other voices in a more 
organized campaign. This is advocacy, and 
it works! 

The ALA Washington Office’s specialty is 
grassroots advocacy on federal issues, and 
below are a few things we recommend for 
getting the word out about your library and 
how important it is. 

Call, e-mail, or fax your member of 
Congress 
Tell your member of Congress how cuts in 
funding—whether that funding be for your 
university or organization—will directly affect 
your library and how increases will help. 

• The ALA Legislative Action Center 
(capwiz.com/ala/home): is a great place to 
see what library­related legislation is hot 
and fax a letter to Congress. Let them hear 
your voice! 

• Call your legislators: Just call the Capi­
tol Switchboard at (202) 225­3121 and ask to 
speak with your representative or senator. If 
you don’t know who your legislators are, visit 
www.house.gov or www.senate.gov. 

Meet with Your member of Congress 
Members want to meet with constituents! 
Simply call the district office to either make 
an appointment or to learn the schedule of 
town hall meetings. Ask the candidates what 

Andy Bridges is communications specialist at ALA’s 
Washington Offi  ce, e-mail: abridges@alawash.org 

they will do to reverse cuts and increase the 
federal government’s investment in universi­
ties and research libraries. 

Invite your member of Congress to 
visit your library 
Let members see for themselves the positive 
contributions federal dollars make to your 
library. Simply send a short letter of invita­
tion, and follow up with the district offi ce 
scheduler. 

Contact local media 
Write a letter to the editor, call radio talk 
shows, or generate interest in the issue 
among local newspaper, radio, or television 
reporters. Give reporters examples of success 
stories from your library and what is at risk 
if funds are inadequate. 

Start speaking out! The best way to infl u­
ence those who control the policies and the 
purse strings is for those who use and value 
library services to speak out. With the federal 
government now cutting fi nancial resources 
to libraries across the country, one of the 
ways to remedy the drain on library funding 
resources is for people to continue pressuring 
lawmakers to make sure that libraries get their 
fair share of federal financial resources. The 
more people who speak out, the stronger the 
voice of libraries. Members of Congress want 
to hear from constituents about issues that are 
important to their communities. 

And, finally, don’t forget: 
• Stay in touch with the ALA’s Wash-

ington Office: Stop by the front page of the 
Web site (www.ala.org/ala/washoff) every 
day to make sure you know exactly what’s 
going on in Congress. 

• Subscribe to ALAWON: The ALA Wash­
ington Office Newsline (ALAWON) is a free 
e­mail publication of the ALA Washington 
Office, keeping library advocates up to date 
on major legislative issues in the nation’s 
capital. 

C&RL News November 2006  642 

www.ala.org/ala/washoff
mailto:abridges@alawash.org
http:www.senate.gov
http:www.house.gov