Advocacy Everyday Welcome

Who we are & Why we are here. Who’s in the room.

Advocating for Libraries Advocacy WHAT: Advocacy is a strategy to influence policy makers as they make rules and laws that affect people's lives. Advocacy is NOT LOBBYING. Lobbying is specific to a given piece of legislation. Advocacy is education. Lobbying is seeking to influence. Everyone has a decision maker above them. Everyone has someone to influence – someone to advocate with. NYLA.org

Advocating for Libraries What library directors and trustees are allowed to do as advocates. Education & Advocacy vs. Lobbying Promoting the Library Vote is okay. Promoting a ‘Yes’ vote is not. The Friends, or Foundation CAN promote a ‘Yes’ vote. An individual always retains their rights to free speech – but must not speak for the organization. (Letter to the editor.) NYLA.org

What you need to advocate for Libraries (or anything): Advocating for Libraries What you need to advocate for Libraries (or anything): Message: what are you trying to accomplish Opportunity: know where, when and how Persistence: Advocacy is an ongoing process – don’t give up! NYLA.org

Advocating for Libraries Message: Tell Stories. Stories beat Stats. NYLA.org

One Size Does NOT fit all. Customize your message for your audience – every time.

Make your own OPPORTUNITIES - Seek out place to promote what libraries do.

It NEVER ends. There is no final victory, no time to celebrate. One session ends and the next begins. Build in leadership development and succession planning to ensure that your infrastructure remains healthy over the long haul.

How we do what we do in Albany.

Influence is based on Votes and Money. The library community commands neither. Persistent and consistent messaging is key.

LIBRARIES ARE EDUCATION Two years in – this is resonating. State level message, tying library funding to education funding.

$16,000,000 Increased funding since 2008. $95.6M currently

NYS Library Aid Programs Adult Literacy Services Central Library Aid Conservation/Preservation Construction Coordinated Collection Development for Academic Libraries Coordinated Outreach to Special Populations Family Literacy Library Services Hospital/Medical Library Services Indian Libraries Institution Library Services Regional Bibliographic Databases and Interlibrary Resources Sharing Services to Blind and Handicapped Readers State Aid for Summer Reading Programs Library Aid = $91.6M Where Does It Go? 25 Aid Programs - 23 Library Systems – 757 Public Libraries

2016 Legislative Agenda 2016 Legislative Priorities Review Packet

What can you do – locally?

Spread the word. Tell everyone.

Use MOPS to get your piece of the funding pie. Remember that funding is finite and an increase for you likely means a cut somewhere else.

Never be complacent. Identify champions and advocates.

Advocating for Libraries Shameless Plug Shameless Plug Remind attendees that NYLA depends on the support of membership dollars to advance its mission, and to support library advocacy. NYLA.org

Jeremy Johannesen director@nyla.org Mike Neppl advocate@nyla.org