CHICAGO - The Southeastern Library Association (SELA) has joined the list of co-sponsors for the American Library Association (ALA) Advocacy Institute, scheduled for Friday, June 23, 2006 during Annual Conference in New Orleans.
Geared to help foster community support among library professionals, Friends, trustees and advocates at the state levels, attendees will learn strategies to successfully advocate for their libraries, including message development, lobbying basics and coalition building techniques. Attendees will leave with a draft of an advocacy action plan to implement in their library community. The Advocacy Institute is designed for the beginning advocate or anyone who wants to sharpen their skills.
"The Southeastern Library Association is pleased that ALA is bringing an Advocacy Institute to the New Orleans Annual Conference," said Judith Gibbons, president, SELA. "Learning about the nuts and bolts of getting your message out, building your team and working in a political environment is vitally important nationwide. It is of particular importance in areas of the South that are rebuilding from the devastating 2005 hurricanes."
Recently moved to an afternoon time slot to include a luncheon presentation with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), the Advocacy Institute also will address current legislative issues. The Institute is now scheduled from 12-5 p.m.
Gloria Meraz, Texas Library Association, will host the lunch discussion, focusing on two types of state legislation affecting libraries in similar ways: the "65 Percent Solution," affecting school libraries, and TABOR (Tax Payer Bill of Rights) Laws, which will primarily impact public libraries. Co-sponsored by AASL, the luncheon will run from 12-1 pm., allowing participants in the division's morning preconference to attend.
The cost is $25 for both the luncheon and the Advocacy Institute. AASL members who attend the lunch are welcome to attend the Institute in the afternoon.
Other sponsors for the Institute include the Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi Library Associations. The Advocacy Institute is a project of the Advocacy Institute Task Force of the ALA Public Awareness Committee, in partnership with the ALA Chapter Relations Office, the Association for Library Trustees and Advocates, the ALA Washington Office, and Friends of Libraries USA. The Advocacy Institute is made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation.
To register for the Advocacy Institute, visit www.ala.org/advocacy institute and follow the links to ALA's registration page. To register for the luncheon only, visit the same site and register for the Advocacy Institute. Onsite registration for both the Advocacy Institute and the luncheon will be available and begins at 11:30 am.
| Southeastern Library Association joins ALA Advocacy Institute sponsors |