For immediate release | December 3, 2012

Line-up announced for Innovative Advocacy in Action Institute at ALA Midwinter Meeting

CHICAGO — In a changing landscape, libraries and library communities are rethinking the way they advocate for funding and services. “Innovative Advocacy in Action: An Advocacy Institute Discussion” at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting, will showcase some of these new efforts from around the country.

The newly announced lineup of speakers includes EveryLibrary founder John Chrastka, speaking about his new national organization dedicated exclusively to political action for libraries at the state and local level; Dr. Ken Haycock, research professor of management and organization, University of Southern California, discussing evidence-based advocacy; Pat Tumulty, executive director of the New Jersey Library Association, discussing library advocacy efforts during and after Hurricane Sandy and the library’s role in disaster recovery;and Lauren Comito, and Christian Zabriskie, founder of Queens, N.Y.-based Urban Libraries Unite speaking about advocacy opportunities in metropolitan settings. The ALA’s Office for Library Advocacy Director Marci Merola will host and moderate the panel discussion.

The event takes place from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 at the Washington State Convention Center, Room 305.

The Advocacy Institute is sponsored by the ALA Committee on Library Advocacy, in partnership with the ALA Public Library Association and Chapter Relations Committee. The event is co-sponsored by the Washington Library Association.

For more information, please visit the ALA Midwinter Meeting website for a full list of schedules, speakers, and times or contact the ALA’s Office for Library Advocacy.

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Contact:

Marci Merola

Director

Office for Library Advocacy

mmerola@ala.org

800-545-2433 ext. 2431