Iowa Library Association Action Alert II

After you've contacted Governor Culver

Fellow Librarians:

Contacting the governor's office to protest cuts in library services is essential. However, it's also important that we directly contact our local legislators with our concerns. Please tell your state representative and senator, politely and respectfully, that the governor's budget cuts would devastate services to patrons of Iowa's libraries.

In the last year, 64% of your representatives' constituents held library cards and, collectively, made some 16 million visits to public libraries. Remind your legislator that libraries and library patrons are important. To find your local legislator, visit http://www.legis.state.ia.us/findleg/

Emails and phone calls are great, but there's nothing quite like face-to-face contact. There will be a legislative listening post this weekend at AEA267 in Cedar Falls this Saturday morning. I and several of my library colleagues will be there. When the time comes for the public to ask questions, we will get in line, look our representatives in the eye, and say "How could Governor Culver propose such drastic cuts to essential library services? What do you intend to do about it?"

We will, of course, be very polite and respectful!

Is there a listening post or coffee scheduled for your area? If so, please attend and share your concerns.

Below are some upcoming coffees and listening posts. If you're aware of others, please forward them to me or members@iowalibraryassociation.org

Saturday, January 19, 2008

AEA 267, 3712 Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls, IA
9:30-11:30 a.m. (all area legislators)

Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Avenue (Council Bluffs)
9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (all Pottawattamie area legislators)

Washington County Courthouse (Washington)
10 a.m. to Noon (Sen. Becky Schmitz)

Luigis, 1020 S. Frederick Avenue (Oelwein)
9:30 a.m. (Sen. Brian Schoenjahn)

Cronk's Cafe (Denison)
10:00 a.m. (Sen. Jim Seymour)

After you've contacted the governor and your state senator and representative, spread the word to kindred spirits. Ask your trustees, friends, city and county officials, everyone, to email, mail, or call the Governor's office to express their concerns.

Thank-you for your support. Please contact me with questions and suggestions.

Michael J. Dargan
GAC Chairman, Iowa Library Association
319 833 9118
mailto:dargan@iowalibraryassociation.org