ALA   American Library Association Search ALA      Contact ALA      Login     

PLA Home Page About PLAOrganizationConferences, Events, and Online LearningCommittee Work
Publications and Reports Issues and Advocacy ResourcesMembers OnlyAwardsNews

 Smartest Card Campaign
 Public Librarian Recruitment
                       
Print this page Print this page
Home  Message Sheet III Influentials

Message Sheet III: Influentials

Goal: Funders and policymakers, business and community leaders and others who wield influence will support library funding.

What do we want the audience to feel? Think? Do?

  • The library is a partner for a vibrant and educated community.
  • The public library is a "best buy" for taxpayers.
  • Fund/support the library.

Key message: A library card is the smartest card. Support the library.

Why it is important to them:

A library card is a symbol of what the library offers and represents in our democracy. Supported with public tax dollars, public libraries serve everyone from cradle to grave.

Three supporting points:

  • Public libraries are partners for vibrant and educated communities
  • Public libraries are essential for a free people.
  • Public libraries are places of opportunity.

Stories/examples/facts: (Adapt these examples for your library.)

  • Libraries help children do better in school.
  • Americans borrow an average of 6.5 items per person from their public libraries. They pay an average of $27 per person in taxes to support their public libraries—far less than what it would cost to buy a best-seller, a couple of magazine, CDs and videos.
  • Public libraries bridge the digital divide—9 out of 10 public libraries provide computers and Internet access.
  • Library literacy programs encourage adult students to meet business and other goals.
PLA is a division of the American Library Association. Copyright Statement.