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Library Advocacy in Massachusetts – a primer for
Trustees
What
is Advocacy?
Basically, it means speaking up, publicly voicing your support on
behalf of something (ex: budget, new building, programs, hours of
service). Advocacy has multiple audiences: the local citizenry and
the decision-makers who set your library’s budget. This latter
category includes finance and capital planning committee members,
town meeting members, mayors, boards of selectmen, and state
legislators. Legislative advocacy involves contacting your
legislators (defined broadly here to include local, state and
federal officials) in order to persuade them to support your library
in any budget discussions, upcoming votes or pending legislation.
Why
does it need to be done for Libraries?
Public
libraries are funded with public money – tax dollars, which are
distributed according to the budget decisions made by local
(municipal) officials and the legislation passed by state office
holders. There is a finite amount of money a state, city or town can
raise through taxes, and a seemingly unlimited number of programs
competing for those monies The exact dollar amounts and the programs
for which they are earmarked can vary dramatically from one fiscal
year to the next. Quite simply, those who ask, get. Proponents of
all sorts of programs make the time to contact their legislators for
favorable treatment – library supporters must do the same. Think
of it from your legislators’ point of view – they are not librarians
and don’t have an MLS. They need the benefit of your experience,
your expertise, and your input to make good decisions and pass good
bills. Libraries need informed members of their communities to make
their case, loudly and clearly.
What’s the Message?
In this
state, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC)
provides services to all public libraries, both directly and
indirectly. Inadequate funding of their budget has a negative,
fiscal impact on all libraries and their services. It is imperative
that all trustees understand the six line items of the MBLC’s budget
and how changes to it impact their local library. Line item 9101
funds the MBLC staff, who in turn provide advisory and training
services to directors, trustees and friends groups on library
operations. The MBLC is the organizer and sponsor of the annual
Trustee Symposium, which provides workshops on timely topics at no
fee to the attendees. Regional library services, including the
delivery of materials between libraries, continuing education, and
technical assistance and training for your library staff come from
line item 9401. The regional library systems organize new trustee
orientation seminars. Services to your community’s blind and
vision-impaired citizens is funded through the Talking Book Program
(line items 9402 and 9406), which provides access to a library of
described videos, print/Braille books and large type books, and
lends talking book machines. People with reading disabilities, such
as dyslexia, and those who can no longer hold a book or concentrate
on the written word, such as victims of stroke, may also use this
service. From line item 9501 your library receives “state aid”,
which it can use to maintain its collections and hours of service;
this is often referred to as “cherry sheet” funding. Few libraries
could afford to purchase electronic databases, provide an electronic
catalog or participate in a network were it not for underwriting of
those expenses by line item 9506, Library Technology and Resource
Sharing funds. When this budget line is cut the fixed costs of
databases and networks must still be paid, and are passed right on
to local libraries, directly affecting local library budgets. In
addition, since 1990 more than 200 of the Commonwealth’s libraries
have benefited from library construction money, a program also
overseen by the MBLC. If your library has benefited by
construction funding, you' already know the importance of this
funding is paramount.
Whether
talking to local officials or having a meeting on Beacon Hill, it is
critical that library staff, trustees and friends speak with one
accord to make their message heard, and have their goal – adequate
funding for library services – realized. When a library’s budget is
cut, its hours are shortened, personnel cut or services are reduced,
it hurts everyone. But most of all it hurts those who have the
least access to resources such as books, magazines and computers
outside the Library. Libraries serve every segment of the
population, from preschoolers to preteens, businessmen and retirees,
students of all ages, the elderly and the homebound, regardless of
race, income level, or gender. A library can be America’s great
information equalizer – but only if it’s adequately funded! Your
voice is essential to ensure that libraries receive that funding and
all your citizens are well served.
Who
Needs to Deliver the Message?
In
principle, libraries have four kinds of people who can and should
advocate for them: the library director and staff, the Friends of
the Library, the Board of Trustees and the library’s vast user
group. In practice, it’s different. Those who are not paid to do
a particular job often find it difficult to give the time and energy
necessary to become an effective advocate.
Because
of the nature of their positions, trustees and library directors
have the most intimate and up-to-date knowledge of their library’s
budget, personnel, services, programs and facility. Trustees have
multiple responsibilities: to oversee the library, establish policy
and plans, determine the library’s final budget and conduct public
relations. Their insight and information prepares them to be a
library’s best proponents.
Library
Directors are expected to advocate for library funding – after all,
it is part of their job. Library Trustees, whether appointed or
elected, are unpaid and volunteering their time. Legislators
recognize the difference and are impressed by constituents who take
the time and energy to advocate on a voluntary basis. At the same
time, however, trustees are also considered public officials, are
duty bound to act in the best interest of the library and those that
it serves, and thus have some clout in the political arena.
There
are 370 independent public libraries in the state, one director per
library. There are 2500 library trustees in Massachusetts.
Legislators have aides who count the number of calls, emails and
letters they receive on each piece of pending legislation. Imagine
the impact if just every other trustee contacted their legislator
twice a year on library issues - trustees can have a very
substantial impact!
How
do you do it?
Advocacy can be done from the comfort of one’s home. Writing a
letter, making a telephone call or sending an email or fax are all
appropriate forms for contacting decision-makers. Nothing, however,
beats face-to-face contact. Attending meetings, breakfasts and
special “Days on the Hill” are especially effective. First of all,
they show that you took extra time and effort on behalf of your
cause to meet and advocate. Second, your presence puts a face on
your program. When your legislator is considering how to vote on a
bill, he can now conjure up the face of someone who will be
affected. Third, your legislator wants the support (and votes!) of
his constituency, and your message informs him what they’re thinking
about.
Writing
a letter to the editor of the town paper, crafting a special webpage
or a flier for wide distribution, appearing on or producing your own
program for local cable television are also forms of advocacy.
These educate your fellow citizens, who may help you get the message
across to legislators and other officials.
Easy
ways to advocate exist. Take advantage of events organized by
associations such as the Massachusetts Library Association’s Ways
and Means Day (February) and Legislative Day (April), and the
Legislative Breakfasts organized by and held within each of the
Massachusetts’ six regional library systems. The dates, locations,
schedule and invitations are done for you. You just need to call
and confirm that your local legislator is planning on attend, then
show up yourself and make conversation. These activities let
legislators know we care about funding for libraries! Every voice
can make a difference. Advocate!
For
more information, or to learn how to become a library advocate,
contact any of the following organizations
American Library Association: 800-545-2433
www.ala.org Read: Library
Advocate’s Handbook.
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners: 800-952-7403
http://mblc.state.ma.us
Massachusetts Library Association: (508) 428-5865
www.masslib.org
Massachusetts Library Trustees Association:
www.masslib.org/mlta
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