MHLS Home Advocacy
Advocacy for Public Libraries is a year-round job.
What is advocacy? "Advocacy is working to change policies. This can mean something as formal as sitting down and talking to your legislator, or as simple as telling your neighbor about the impact of a law." Source: NPAction.org

 

Libraries Targeted Again in State Budget - 8% reduction for 2009-2010

What you can do now:

Pictures from Lobby Day! [With much thanks to Bob Reilly, director @Pawling, Kerstin Cruger & Merribeth Advocate @MHLS]

 

More Resources....
Stay Tuned In through the MHLS Advocacy Network
Mid-Hudson Library System Legislators
History of Funding for Libraries and Library Systems in New York (NYS)
2000 Census Money Explanation (NYS)
Current Legislation | New Century Libraries Proposal (NYS)
NYLA Library Lobby Day (@Albany)
National Library Legislative Day (@Washington D.C.)
Meeting With Your Legislator (by MHLS Executive Director, Josh Cohen)
Quotable Facts about MHLS

10 FAQs About New York's Libraries
Marist Poll on Libraries 2003 (HTML or PDF)
"Results of Zogby Polls Support Libraries"
New Poll Shows Continued Public Support For Increase in State Aid for Libraries [NYLA, 2008]
Comparison of Library Aid to Inflation Graph [NYLA, 2007]

Library Advocate Resources
Library Advocate's Handbook (American Library Association)
Telling the Library Story Toolkit (from the State Library of Iowa)
How to Tell Your Story - ALA LSTA Success Stories Page
Add It Up - Libraries Make the Difference in Youth Development and Education
(ALA)
CITIZEN'S ACCESS TO STATE GOVERNMENT
Advocacy Glossary
Advocating for Better Salaries Toolkit

Advocacy Support Organizations
NYS
New York Library Association
New York State Library

New York State Association of Library Boards (NYSALB)
Empire Friends

National
American Library Association (ALA)
ALA Legislative Action Center
Libraries for the Future
Friends of Libraries USA
Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA)
Congressional Budget Office
US Senate Finance Committee