| CLRC’s advocacy objective is to educate librarians and library assistants in effective advocacy skills to use on behalf of their libraries, and to keep them informed regarding the status of legislation affecting their library’s ability to serve their patrons.
CLRC’s Legislative Committee assists staff in developing activities and projects that further these ends. These include hosting several annual legislative breakfasts, organizing an annual bus trip to Albany on Library Advocacy Day (the Dan Casey/Ken Wilbur Express) and arranging local visits to legislators’ offices. CLRC works with local politicians to facilitate communications between representatives and constituents. CLRC events, like Library Advocacy Day and Legislative Breakfasts, bring librarians to their legislators. Together, we can explain and demonstrate the value of libraries to elected officials so that they continue to support us. CLRC also works closely with the New York Library Association in promoting statewide legislative goals for libraries of all types. To contact your local or national elected official about library issues, check out this ALA resource. |
Advocacy Calendar:In the first week of March, CLRC sponsors and organizes a bus to drive library supporters from Central New York to Albany for Library Advocacy Day (formerly referred to as Lobby Day). The next Library Advocacy Day will be held on March 6th, 2012. Read more about Library Advocacy Day from NYLA here. On the first two Fridays of December, CLRC hosts legislative breakfasts so that library supporters and librarians can talk to local legislators about the importance of libraries. For the last few years, CLRC has sponsored an Advocacy Video Contest. These videos are shown at the legislative breakfasts. |
