Record Numbers Gather for
Day of Lobbying in Washington
Almost 600 library advocates representing 48 states and the District of Columbia gathered in Washington May 4 for the 25th annual National Library Legislative Day, a marathon of meetings with senators and representatives and their staffs to lobby for libraries. Over half of the record-breaking delegation were first-time participants.
Sponsored by ALA and the District of Columbia Library Association, the event was preceded by a day of briefings during which visitors to Capital Hill were prepped on how to deliver their key messages. Funding, the e-rate, database protection, copyright, and open access to government information and the Internet were among the top issues.
Friends of Libraries USA presented awards for library advocacy to Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Rep. Connie Morella (R-Md.), a champion of the e-rate who called libraries “the delivery room for ideas.” Among the many legislators who attended was Sen. Chuck Robb (D-Va.), who lunched with the Virginia delegation. Rep. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.) met lobbyists from Illinois, which sent the largest delegation, some 100 people.
Posted May 10, 1999.
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