New “Our Authors, Our Advocates” public service announcements available at ilovelibraries.org

PSAs feature best-selling authors Neil Gaiman, Kathy Reichs, Pam Muñoz Ryan and Carmen Agra Deedy

CHICAGO - Four new author public service announcements (PSAs) will be available to library advocates on April 13, through the ALA “Our Authors, Our Advocates” initiative. The new PSAs by Neil Gaiman, “The Graveyard Book;” Kathy Reichs, “Virals;” Pam Muñoz Ryan “The Dreamer;”and Carmen Agra Deedy “14 Cows for America,” will be available by visiting www.ilovelibraries.org/ourauthorsouradvocates.

Participating authors provide a variety of video PSAs on such issues as library funding, literacy, value of school libraries and much more. Library advocates are encouraged to share PSAs via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or embed to relevant Web pages. Libraries, friends groups and library supporters are welcome to download videos and add their own logos and music.

Through “Our Authors, Our Advocates,” one of ALA President Roberta Stevens’ key presidential initiatives, authors will lend their support for libraries through media interviews, podcasts, and public service announcements.

“Authors are the natural allies of libraries in these challenging times,” said ALA President Roberta Stevens. “They understand the key role libraries and library staff play in the economic, social and educational fabric of our nation. ‘Our Authors, Our Advocates’ will focus on using these well-known and passionate individuals to speak out on the importance of not only sustaining but increasing support for libraries.”

Other authors whose video PSAs are available through the initiative include Scott Turow, “Innocent;” Brad Meltzer, “The Inner Circle;” Sara Paretsky, “Body Work;” and Sharon Draper, "Jericho trilogy." “Our Author Our Advocates” audio PSAs are also available and include Tony Di Terlizzi,“The Spiderwick Chronicles;” Holly Black, “White Cat;” MT Anderson, “Octavian Nothing;" and Laurie Halse Anderson, “Chains.”

A toolkit called “Cultivating Your Local Notables,” providing resources for library advocates at the local level to work with authors and other celebrities, is available at www.ala.org/localnotables. Our Authors, Our Advocates is one of two presidential initiatives. The other, "Why I Need My Library," encourages teens ages 13 to 18 to create original videos on why they think libraries are needed now more than ever. More information is available at www.ilovelibraries.org.

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 61,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

Contact ALA Media Relations Manager Macey Morales at (312) 280-4393, mmorales@ala.org, or ALA PR Coordinator Jennifer Petersen at (312) 280-5043, jpetersen@ala.org.

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