More Than 1,600 Participate in National Library Advocacy Day

The American Library Associations reports that the Library Advocacy Day rally on Capitol Hill was a success thanks to the participation of over 1,600 ALA members and advocates of all ages who braved the 90-degree heat on June 29 to take part in the largest federal advocacy event in ALA history. (About 20 Wisconsin library advocates participated, led by Julie Schneider, WLA's Federal Legislative Advocate and ALA Councilor.)

As library advocates in your states, you represent Americans in every community across this country people who need their libraries, ALA President Camila Alire told the crowd as she opened the rally.

You have all read the headlines about the funding cuts in libraries across the country. You've lived those cuts, Alire said, adding the advocacy day was the ALA's chance to make sure Congress also knew about the needs of our nation's libraries of all kinds.

Alire emphasized the main themes of the advocacy day including increasing Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding to $300 million for FY2011 and including support for school librarians in the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Pumping up the crowd for their meetings on the Hill following the rally, she led the group with the rally cry, We're going to tell them!

See the complete story with videos and photos of the event!