ALSC announces Everyday Advocacy website

For Immediate Release
Fri, 05/03/2013

Contact:

Dan Rude

Membership/Marketing Specialist

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)

1-800-545-2433 ext.2164

drude@ala.org

CHICAGO - On May 1, 2013, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) announced the launch of the Everyday Advocacy website. This member-driven site is a librarian’s companion for simple, effective ways to learn, share and make a difference in their community.

“In 2013, libraries find themselves at a crossroads. Librarians are taking an active role in promoting the value of the library as an institution,” said ALSC President Carolyn S. Brodie. “Everyday Advocacy excels at instilling the confidence that makes advocacy possible. Members have asked for more resources for conducting advocacy in their communities. Everyday Advocacy is that resource.”

The purpose of Everyday Advocacy is to educate ALSC members about the importance of advocacy and what roles they can take in making advocacy seem important and feasible. The site is meant as a go-to resource for both day-to-day advocacy and crisis advocacy. Visitors will find that the site empowers librarians and library staff to make a difference in their communities and beyond.

“As we developed the Everyday Advocacy website, we realized that anyone can be an advocate,” said ALSC Advocacy Website Task Force chair, Mary Fellows. “There are so many resources out there for individuals. We’ve brought them together at the Everyday Advocacy website. With the site in place, ALSC members can be formidable advocates.”

Everyday Advocacy features a variety of ways to engage community supporters, legislators and stake-holders to effective communicate the value of library services. Users will find that the site makes advocacy attainable without being intimidating.

Everyday Advocacy is for ALSC members and children's librarians as well as anyone who seeks to be an advocate for children and libraries. For more information, please visit: http://www.ala.org/everyday-advocacy

Members of the ALSC Advocacy Website Task Force include: Chair Mary Fellows, Upper Hudson, Library System, N.Y.; Helen Bloch, Oakland (Calif.) Public Library; Penny S. Markey, County of Los Angeles (Calif.) Public Library, retired; Matthew J. McClain Utah State Library.

ALSC is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit their website at www.ala.org/alsc.