Advocacy Library

ALA Advocacy Library

A comprehensive collection of advocacy resources available from the American Library Association.

Browse by topic or search the collection for a specific issue.

Defending Intellectual Freedom: LGBTQ+ Materials in School Libraries


A 2018 ALA Emerging Leaders team was charged with creating a guide for American Association of School Librarians (AASL) to support school librarians in addressing challenges related to censorship and patron privacy issues, particularly with LGBTQ+ materials. Defending Intellectual Freedom: LGBTQ+ Materials in School Libraries is more than a collection of resources. This work uses the AASL Standards framework as scaffolding to help users explore LGBTQ+ materials and needs in their own communities. Use the accompanying infographic and applied framework in the guide to navigate the document more quickly depending on your specific question or need. Activities in each section make this a valuable tool for professional development. This guide is a great example to any practitioner about how they can use the AASL Standards as a lens to address ANY school library issue!

 

Building on pandemic relief and recovery programs, the federal government is making historic investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in advancing digital equity, literacy, and inclusion for all. The IIJA highlights the important role that community anchor institutions, like libraries, will play in creating a digitally equitable future for all.

To amplify work happening in libraries across the nation, ALA released the report Leverage Libraries to Achieve Historic Progress Towards Digital Equity for All. This is just one of the many ways ALA advocates with and for libraries to ensure their eligibility and inclusion in federal, state, and local programs.

ALA will continue to add to this web page and share policy information, best practices, funding opportunities, and a range of resources from libraries and partner organizations to support your digital equity work. We also encourage you to share your stories with us so we can continue to promote and share the contributions libraries are making to advance digital equity in their community.

ALA Resources

  • Digital Equity and America's Libraries (PDF)
  • Amplify and Connect Your Assets (PDF)
  • Federal Funding Resources (PDF)
    • ALA: Affordable Connectivity Program Outreach Grants Fact Sheet
    • Public Libraries: Libraries Eligible for New Digital Equity Outreach Funding; January 9 Deadline to apply
  • Digital Equity Act
    • Public Libraries: Federal Broadband Funding Guidlines Now Available for State to Begin Planning, Applications
    • Archive of "Gearing Up for the Digital Equity Act With Libraries" webinar co-presented by National Skills Coalition (NSC), ALA, and PLA
    • American Libraries: What Libraries Need to Know about the Digital Equity Act

Related Resources

Staff Contacts

Megan Janicki
mjanicki@alawash.org

Larra Clark
lclark@alawash.org

Frontline Advocacy for Academic Libraries

Everyone who works at a college, university, or academic library can be an advocate. Frontline Advocacy for Academic Libraries provides practical tools to help frontline library staff identify opportunities to advocate for the value of libraries and their own value on a daily basis. Learn: Why you are your college or university library’s best frontline advocate; What an effective frontline advocate does; the role of library leadership in planning for frontline advocacy; and ten steps for academic administrators.

Frontline Advocacy for Corporate, Government, and Other Libraries

Everyone who works at a  special library can be an advocate. The Frontline Advocacy Toolkit provides practical tools to help frontline library staff identify opportunities to advocate for the value of libraries and their own value on a daily basis. Content include: Why Are You Your Special Library’s Best Frontline Advocate?; What Does an Effective Frontline Advocate for Special Libraries Do? Frontline Advocacy Every Day: Library Leadership, Staff and Others Working Together; Ten Steps for Special Library Leadership.

Frontline Advocacy for Public Libraries

Everyone who works at a public library can be an advocate. Frontline Advocacy for Public Libraries provides practical tools to help frontline library staff identify opportunities to advocate for the value of libraries and their own value on a daily basis. Learn: Why public libraries need frontline advocates; what an effective frontline advocate does; the importance of leadership and staff working together; the role of library leadership in planning for frontline advocacy; and ten steps for public library administrators.

Frontline Advocacy for School Libraries

Everyone who works at a school library can be an advocate. Frontline Advocacy for School Libraries provides practical tools to help frontline library staff identify opportunities to advocate for the value of libraries and their own value on a daily basis. Learn: Why you your school library’s best frontline advocate; what an effective frontline advocate does; the importance of library media center leadership, staff, and others working together; and ten basic steps to successful frontline advocacy for school library leadership.

Frontline Advocacy Toolkit

Everyone who works at a library can be an advocate. The Frontline Advocacy Toolkit provides practical tools to help frontline library staff at school, public, and academic libraries identify opportunities to advocate for the value of libraries and their own value on a daily basis. Learn to: Identify staff who will take the lead and form an effective Frontline Advocacy team; find roles for all staff; determine a goal; craft your message; put your plan on paper; and evaluate your efforts.

Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights

Although the Articles of the Library Bill of Rights are unambiguous statements of basic principles that should govern the service of all libraries, questions do arise concerning application of these principles to specific library practices. See the documents designated by the Intellectual Freedom Committee as Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights.

Keeping Public Libraries Public: A Checklist for Communities Considering Privatization of Public Libraries (PDF)

In recent years, some city and county governing bodies considered privatization of public libraries.The American Library Association affirms that policymaking and management oversight of public libraries should remain securely in the public domain. This report is designed to help librarians, trustees, Friends, and other library supporters address the issue of  privatization and prepare for any discussions about privatization that might arise in their communities. The report includes: Current ALA Policy; Definitions, Major Issues in Library Privatization;  Key Messages and Talking Points; A Checklist for Considering Privatization; A Checklist for Contract Consideration; and Action Steps for Libraries and Their Supporters.

Libraries Respond

The ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services created Libraries Respond as a space for us to help keep current events in conversation with libraries' ongoing work in and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Topics include: 2016 Election ; Dakota Access Pipeline; Drag Queen Story Hour ; Hate Crimes and Libraries; Hate Groups and Violence; Immigrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers; National Day of Healing; Natural Disasters, Protections for Transgender Students.

Libraries Transform Campaign

Libraries Transform is ALA's multi-year national public awareness campaign highlighting the transformative nature of our nation’s libraries and elevating the critical role libraries and library professionals play in the digital age.

The campaign provides branded print and digital materials for use in local library campaigns, including “Because…” statements that surprise and catch attention of target audiences. Sign up to receive free access to digital and print materials, tips for using the campaign locally, and receive updates. Download posters, postcards, bookmarks, table tents and digital/social media graphics. Registration is required, but the tools are free.

Library Bill of Rights

The articles of the Library Bill of Rights are statements of basic principles that should govern the service of all libraries, They were adopted June 19, 1939, by the American Library Association Council and amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” was reaffirmed January 23, 1996.

Library Campaign Training Institute

Developed and presented by Libby Post of Communication Services, the LCTI teaches attendees how to create, market, and implement an effective advocacy campaign for your library. This five-part webinar series aired in July and August of 2016. Links to the recorded sessions are available.  Part 1: Building your Base; Part 2: The Best Defense is a Good Offense; Part 3: Message, Marketing, & Media; Part 4 + 5: Connecting with YES Voters + Get out the Vote.

Library Card Sign-up Month

Each September thousands of public and school libraries come together in a national effort to remind parents and children that a library card is the most important school supply of all. The observance was launched in 1987 to meet the challenge of then Secretary of Education William J. Bennett who said: "Let's have a national campaign...every child should obtain a library card - and use it." Free resources for libraries include a sample press release, proclamation, PSA scripts, artwork for library cards, as well as print and digital public service announcements featuring the Honorary Chair.

Library Snapshot Day: A Day in the Life of Your Library

Library Snapshot Day provides a way for libraries of all types across a state, region, system or community to show what happens in a single day in their libraries. How many books are checked out? How many people receive help finding a job? Doing their taxes? Doing their homework? This initiative provides an easy means to collect statistics, photos and stories that will enable library advocates to prove the value of their libraries to decision-makers and increase public awareness.