Save Libraries in Your State
ALA Chapters have created—or helped create—websites dedicated to saving the libraries in their states. Among those are Michigan and Ohio. As more become known, links will be provided to them. Each ALA Chapter has a website that includes how to advocate and take action for libraries. Below are links to these sites, as well as to related links that include tips on how to spread the word to save your libraries!
| Save Our Libraries | State and Regional Chapters | Library Advocacy |
Save Our Libraries
Michigan Libraries for the Future
State and Regional Chapters
Links to each ALA Chapter can be found on the State and Regional Chapters directory. Visit your state's website for information on libraries in your state and legislation affecting them. (See also Library Advocacy below.)
Library Advocacy
Chapter Relations Office
The Chapter Relations Office supports ALA's library advocacy efforts by tracking state and federal legislation affecting libraries and by working with the Office for Library Advocacy, the ALA Washington Office, I Love Libraries, other ALA units, and other groups. For links to resources and other information—including where to take action—see CRO's Legislation and Advocacy page and Advocacy page.
Follow CRO on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ALA_CRO. Find and send tweets on saving libraries with #saveSTATElibraries; for example, #saveconnecticutlibraries, #savemichiganlibraries, #saveohiolibraries. If you send out tweets to save the libraries in your state, please send a note to dwood@ala.org. Maybe ALA can help.
Office for Library Advocacy
ALA has an office dedicated to library advocacy: Office for Library Advocacy. OLA supports the efforts of advocates seeking to improve libraries of all types by developing resources, a peer-to-peer advocacy network, and training for advocates at the local, state and national level. In order to achieve this goal, OLA works closely with the Public Information Office, the Chapter Relations Office, the Office for Government Relations, and other ALA units involved in advocacy on behalf of particular types of libraries or particular issues, in order to help better integrate these efforts into the overall advocacy planning and strategies of the association. OLA also works to cultivate future leadership in order to sustain the advocacy efforts of the association.
OLA has several resources, including Advocacy University and Add it Up: Libraries Make the Difference in Youth Development and Education.
Be sure to visit I Love Libraries, the American Library Association's (ALA's) website for the public, designed to keep America informed about what's happening in today's libraries. In addition, sign up to receive the I Love Libraries newsletter.
How Can ALA Help
If you would like to find out what the American Library Association is doing to save your libraries, what ALA can do to help your libraries, or if you would like ALA to help save your libraries, please let us know. Contact us at dwood@ala.org.
