Interactive advocacy sessions to be focus of Advocacy Corner at ALA Annual Conference; will highlight library PAC’s, roles of trustees and Friends

CHICAGO – Interactive advocacy workshops, discussions and presentations focused on critical advocacy topics are the focus of The Advocacy Corner, to take place in the Membership Pavilion at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

Topics range from political action committees, budget negotiations and using Library Snapshot Day data in your advocacy efforts, to updates from the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), the Washington Office Update, Office for Library Advocacy and @ your Library ® and the Campaign for America’s Libraries.

Advocacy Corner sessions take place every 30 minutes from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, and Sunday, June 30, presented in the ALA Member Pavilion on the Exhibit Floor of the McCormick Place Convention Center.

Speakers include: Patricia Tumulty, executive director of the New Jersey Library Association, presenting “Library Snapshot Day,” John Chrastka, executive director of EveryLibrary, discussing planning and conducting successful library ballot measures with “Get Out the Library Vote,” Kristen Simensen, library director of Calhoun County, S.C., and Faith Line, library director of Anderson County, S.C. on the importance of ongoing library advocacy campaigns, titled “Don’t Think This is A One-Shot Deal – The Importance of Ongoing Advocacy,”  and Beth Nawalinski of United for Libraries on best methods of communication with local legislators.  Susan Schmidt of United for Libraries will discuss budgets and best practices for negotiations, or “Get A Bigger Piece of the Budget Pie”.  Jenna Nemec-Loise of ALSC will present “Everyday Advocacy,” showcasing ALSC’s new advocacy website, and Ted Wegner of the ALA Washington Office will present “How the Washington Office Can Help You Advocate: Key Legislative Resources.” 

These informal sessions present an opportunity to learn about a wide variety of advocacy topics and resources and provide an opportunity to network with fellow advocates from around the country.

The Advocacy Corner is sponsored by the ALA Committee on Library Advocacy.

Please visit http://ala13.ala.org/node/11496 for a full list of sessions, speakers and times, and visit the Office for Library Advocacy’s Advocacy Events page for specific times and dates for the Advocacy Corner.