Contact: Jazzy Wright
Press Officer
202-628-8410
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2014
(STATE)advocatetravels to Washington to protect (INSERT STATE)libraries
(INSERT CITY AND STATE)– (INSERT YOUR NAME), a librarian from (INSERT LIBRARY NAME) in (INSERT CITY AND STATE), met with members of Congressfrom May 5–6, 2014, to discuss key library issues during the American Library Association’s 40th annual National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C. (INSERT LAST NAME) joined several hundred librarians and library supporters to support federal funding for our nation’s libraries.
Senator Angus King (I-ME) jumpstarted the advocacy event by addressing library advocates at the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel in Washington, D.C. Additional event speakers included Maine State Librarian Linda Lord; Gabriel Rottman, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union; Shawn Daugherty, assistant director of SPARC; and Peter Jaszi, professor of law at the American University Washington College of Law.
During legislative meetings, supporters discussedthe need to level-fund the Library Services and Technology Act, continue funding for the school library initiative Innovative Approaches to Literacyand reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Library supporters who could not attend the Washington meetings connected virtually with legislators via phone calls, emails and social media platforms.
“Libraries depend on the federal funding they receive to help patrons learn new skills, complete homework assignments, find job opportunities and explore reading materials that they otherwise could not afford,” said Barbara Stripling, president of the American Library Association. “National Library Legislative Day advocates are true ‘nation builders,’helping citizens reach their full potential, and we are appreciative of their leadership.”
Photos from the legislative meetings are available. Learn more about National Library Legislative Day.
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About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 57,000 members in academic, public, school, government, and special libraries. The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.
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