ILA Lobby from Home Day Looms!

Fellow Librarians:

Lobby from Home day is fast approaching. Please think about what you would like to say to your state representative and senator when you contact them Wednesday, February 27. The ILA Legislative Agenda is posted in the Legislative section of the ILA website. Detailed Lobby from Home Day information may also be found on the website.

Proposed cuts to state funding for library services have been the focus of our attention since their announcement in January. For an archive of the budget-related action alerts, as well as links to various helpful documents and tools, browse to my blog.

Other important links--especially for talking points--include Impact of Direct Aid Cuts and How you can Respond.

For contact information, try Governor Culver's response form, the Iowa House Email Addresses, Iowa Senate Email Addresses, and the Iowa General Assembly page.

If you have questions please contact Government Affairs Committee members:

Mike Dargan, Cedar Falls & Waterloo Public Libraries Chair, MikeDargan@iowalibraryassociation.org
Sheryl Bissen, Grinnell College, bissen@grinnell.eduLinda Fox, Oskaloosa Public Library, linda.fox@opl.oskaloosa.orgDawn Hayslett, Burlington Public Library, larrydawnhay@msn.com
Amy Paulus, University of Iowa, amy-fuls@uiowa.eduDarlene Richardson, Leon Public Library, leonpl@grm.net
Duncan Stewart, University of Iowa, duncanstewart@iowalibraryassociation.orgCarlette Washington-Hoagland, University of Iowa, carlette-w-hoagland@uiowa.edu
Michael Wright, University of Iowa, michael-wright@uiowa.edu
Iowa Library Association Lobbyists
Amy Campbell, amy@campbell-patterson.comCraig Patterson, craig@campbell-patterson.com

I'll be sending out an ILA Lobby From Home Day reminder late Tuesday night or early Wednesday. Until then, consider getting your ducks lined up a day or so ahead. Determine who you will contact, find their contact information, then form your message. We care about the ILA Legislative Agenda and are also concerned about the impact of the governor's proposed budget cuts.

And remember: Be polite, but be adamant. The 2 million patrons Iowa's libraries deserve strong support from state government.

While you're at it, the Government Affairs Committee would like to see samples of your messages. If you're willing to help us, please take a moment and copy or forward your messages to me, MikeDargan@iowalibraryassociation.org.

Thank-you for your support of Iowa's libraries!

Important URLs:

Lobby from home toolkit: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/associations/2221/files/Lobbyfromhome2008.pdf
ILA Legislative Agenda: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/associations/2221/files/ILA%202008%20Legislative%20Agenda.pdf
ILA Legislative Page: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=13
ILA Website: http://www.iowalibraryassociation.org/index.cfm-- Michael J. DarganChair, Government Affairs CommitteeIowa Library Association
hawkeyelibrarian.blogspot.com