Roert Hubsher from Ramapo-Catskill Library System is the New York State Coordinator for National Library Legislative Day. He sends the following message:
We need your help! Join us for National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) – registration for the 41st annual NLLD is open. There are still rooms available at the Liaison Hotel, where the briefing is held on Monday, May 4.
This year, National Library Legislative Day will be held May 4-5, 2015. If you haven’t already registered, please take a moment to consider joining us. Registration information and information about our discounted hotel room block information are available on the ALA Washington Office website – http://www.ala.org/advocacy/advleg/nlld.
Know a non-librarian who gets fired up about library issues? First-time participants are eligible for a unique scholarship opportunity. The White House Conference on Library and Information Services Taskforce (WHCLIST) and the ALA Washington Office are calling for nominations for the 2015 WHCLIST Award. Recipients of this award receive a stipend ($300 and two free nights at a D.C. hotel) to a non-librarian participant in National Library Legislative Day. For more information about the WHCLIST award visit: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/advleg/nlld/funding
This is an extremely important event! This is the one time each year when delegates from all over the country come to Washington DC to advocate for libraries. It is an opportunity for face-to-face meetings with our legislators and their aides to talk about the key issues that are critical for the protection of the first amendment, the freedom to read, fair copyright practices, and many other issues that affect public access to information.
In the wake of the sweeping changes to both the House and the Senate in the 2014 Congressional elections, it is more important than ever that we rally together to speak up on behalf of libraries and the communities they serve.
The FCC acted to protect Net Neutrality in early February (here is a link to the latest information – http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2478224,00.asp?mailingID=603519F495418BD54287E6D2CACA570D?mailing_id=1192230) but there are already Congressional moves to undermine or prevent the FCC from implementing this critical protection for the open Internet. We will have to continue our vigilance and be prepared to respond to any legislative action to undermine Net Neutrality.
The issues and legislative priorities for NLLD are still being developed. I will share those with you as soon they become available.
If there are no rooms left when you try to book or you find the rate at this hotel to be too much for your budget here is a link hotels that are either in Washington DC or in nearby Virginia with ready access to the Metro which comes into Union Station not from the Liaison Hotel or legislative office buildings.