At their June 11 meeting, the WLA Board approved creation of a library advocacy conduit to allow WLA members to contribute to the political campaigns of candidates for statewide office. Members would contribute directly to the conduit via WLA, and WLA would maintain the accounts of each contributor. Monies may only be released with the permission of the contributor at the time the contribution is needed. A check from the WLA conduit fund, listing each individual conduit contributor, is presented to the candidate. He or she may report the contributions as individual contributions.

There are five months remaining in the 2004 campaign season. Library supporters now have one more way of making their political presence felt! Watch for more details!

Wisconsin Library Association has been working on improved collaboration with the Wisconsin Educational Media Association (WEMA). With the participation and advice of leaders of the Wisconsin Association of School Librarians (WASL), a multi-faceted plan to improve the representation of school librarians and their issues within WLA has emerged.

The most important feature of our plan is a new dual WLA/WEMA membership option and the dissolution of WASL as a division of WLA. Other approved goals for the collaboration include more co-sponsored conference programming, encouragement of cooperation between different types of libraries (particularly between school and public libraries within the same community), and continued emphasis on developing shared legislative priorities and strategies. Find out more!

On June 11, the WLA Board approved the recommendation of its Library Development and Legislation Committee for library funding priorities for the 2005-07 biennium. LD&L has communicated the priorities to the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning. WLA representatives will also seek meetings with Gov. Jim Doyle and State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster to outline priorities for library funding in the next biennium.