HomeSAL Letter to Elected Official

Elected officials are hearing from their constituents in record numbers as they undertake the difficult process of slashing budgets locally and statewide. While they have their own priorities, most legislators are influenced by the views and needs expressed by those they serve. That is why it is critical that you let your elected officials know why your community's libraries must maintain their current level of funding. Please take time to write your own letter to your elected officials, using either the template below or your own words. You also can circulate this letter to your Friends of the Library group, other organizations you belong to, your supporters and most loyal patrons. Ask them to join you in writing to their funding sources. Please don't delay; in this case, silence could be disastrous for our libraries. For more tips on advocating for libraries with your elected officials, please refer to the Library Advocates Handbook.

Sample Letter to Your Local/State Elected Official:

Dear (name):

We are all aware of the painful truth that almost every funding body is working diligently to resolve serious shortfalls in revenue and budget deficits between now and the end of the fiscal year. I know this must be a painful and painstaking effort for you.

While I understand how many competing interests you are juggling, I feel it is essential that I let you know how important it is that you spare our community's [indicate public/school/ academic] libraries as you make your cuts. Libraries everywhere, including those for which you have specific funding responsibility, are fundamental to our democracy and to our community(ies). Did you know that libraries offer everyone free access to a world of resources for less than the cost of one hardcover book per person?

The overwhelming majority of your constituents support and use libraries. They view libraries as dynamic, modern community centers for learning, information and enjoyment. Libraries play a critical role in leveling the playing field by providing free access to technology and information resources to anyone who steps through the doors regardless of their ability to pay or learning differences. In fact, as the economy has faltered, we have seen an increase of 8 percent in library circulation nationally over the average of the four previous years [insert local statistics reflecting increased use here, if appropriate]

[Insert paragraph here about the integral role that your library plays in the lives of members of your community.]

I urge you to spare our community's [USE A SPECIFIC HERE] library services and resources as you consider how and where to make cuts. Everyone loves libraries, but libraries cannot live on love alone. Each year we manage to stretch our funding a little further by helping more people, by creating more readers, and by providing access to the Internet for more people. Funding cuts will literally leave our most vulnerable citizens standing out in the cold. Please help save America's libraries by saving our local library(ies).

Sincerely,