February 4, 2012

TLA Webinar:

“Speaking Out For Libraries During the 83^rd Legislature with Gloria Meraz and Susan Mann”

By kYmberly Keeton, UNT Houston Student Coordinator

The Texas Library Association (TLA) presented a free webinar online on the TLA’s Virtual Action Day 2013. In an effort to speak out for continued funding of libraries and the importance of their existence in communities across the state, TLA is asking all concerned parties to get the word out about the libraries’ need for state and federal funding. Gloria Meraz and Susan Mann (Webinar Hosts) both stated that it’s time to take the march to the state capitol and not back down with the libraries’ message. Libraries are community institutions – buildings are open to all that want to enter. Our legislators have to remember that there must be individuals in the institution to open the front doors for patrons, organize and manage information, and be of service to others.

The reasons why we need funding for libraries are to support the workforce, literacy and educational resources and services – to prevent a 9 million dollar loss this legislative session. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission funds the majority of public libraries in the state. Texas libraries are no longer receiving funding like in previous years. Libraries across the board shared in the loss of 30 million dollars last legislative sessions.

Take time to get organized, and have a strategy plan for your advocacy day. Write letters, send emails to rally up your supporters. Be a good salesperson, be convincing, and know your facts and your community when speaking with others about libraries. Use social media as much as possible. TLA has provided a host of tools to use and documents to read about Virtual Action Day via their website. Stay on point at all times this is about the Libraries…Libraries…Libraries. Have good answers and be prepared for anything.

Virtual Action Day is on February 12, 2013. We are making the case for libraries.

For more information about Virtual Action Day access advocacy tools here: http://www.txla.org/legislative-day