Organization's Advocacy Toolkits
New York Library Association has made advocacy and government relations one of its highest priorities. This website lists legislative priorities, NYLA's Legislative Advocacy Plan and provides advocacy tools that are beneficial for libraries to influence legislators in supporting NYS budget for library initiatives. WNYLRC was a supporter of NYLA 2007 Legislative Proposal which saw a $8 million increase for library systems.
American Library Association Resource Center provides information on ALA's Advocacy Institute, federal legislative issues, library funding, and grassroots resources. ALA also reports on federal legislation that impact intellectual freedom and privacy.
Library Advocate's Hanbook published in 2000, ALA's 2nd edition handbook on advocating for libraries in PDF format is an essential resource.
New York State
Find Your Legislator: (and Legislation) The New York State Assembly has a website that includes tools on locating current legislation and an opportunity to view live coverage of an Assembly session. The web site also includes a tool to locate representatives in the NYS Assembly.
The New York State Senate has a website that includes senate reports, bills and laws, student and kids programs, and senate schedules. The web site also includes a tool to locate NYS senators by zipcode, name, or by clicking on the district map.
New York State Law and Libraries: Searching NYS Law and Regulations Relating to libraries just got easier! Anyone searching for current New York State law and regulations pertaining to libraries, library systems, trustees, and librarians in New York State can now access this information quickly on the New York State Library's website. This interactive web resource makes components of the State Library publication Excerpts from New York State Education Law, Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Pertaining to Libraries, Library Systems, Trustees and Librarians available in a user friendly and easy to navigate web tool for users. This interactive site supercedes the 1995 print version and the FTP files of the Excerpts document that have been on the State Library website since 1995.
New York State Budget Summary: The New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee's "Statistical And Narrative Summary of the Executive Budget," also known as the "Yellow Book," is now available online. To view the Yellow Book, click on the link http://assembly.state.ny.us/Reports and click on the Yellow Book link.
New York State Library Initiatives: The NYS Library proposal annually seeks state funding to implement the Regents Commission on Library Services recommendations, support public library construction and library aid to localities. These recommendations include supporting NOVEL (The New York Online Virtual Electronic Library), increase support for public library construction and renovation, support an academic and research library initiative, provide incentives for the voluntary formation of public library districts, and assist New York's struggling urban libraries.
United States
Find your Federal Representatives: (and Legislation) Current legislative issues, including those that involve privacy, intellectual freedom, and literacy, affect not only the vitality and effectiveness of America's libraries, but impact the rights of individuals.
The White House
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives |
