From left to right: Tywanna Burton, Ann Marie Pipkin, Representative William E. Thigpen, and LeeAnna Mills meet during legislative day in Montgomery on April 15

Talking Points for Communication with Legislators

Here are the points we would like to ask our Legislators to support or
oppose for us. To do this they should not support the Governor's proposed
budget as it has our Library Enhancement funds pooled with the other
classroom support funds.  Please contact your legislators today. Calling works
best, be sure to leave a message with your contact information if you
don't speak directly to the Legislator. Emailing is an option but some do
not check them as often as others or even use email. Here is website
where you can find your contact information for your Legislators,
www.legislature.state.al.us <http://www.legislature.state.al.us/> .
It is very important for all our voices to be heard on these issues, please
help us pass the word to other Library Media Specialists and supporters of our programs.



· Ensuring there is a certified Library Media Specialist for all schools
earning units and funds are used as allocated

· Divisors are not raised in Education Budget

· Library Media Funds known as "Library Enhancement" funds are NOT
included with other funds and decisions made at local levels.  Keep
Library Enhancement funding as line item even if in reduced amounts.

· Support AVL   by funding @ $3,643.974.60 in order not to lose anymore
databases!

Please feel free to contact me if you need more information, my cell is
205-932-0329. L. Mills, Legislative Chair AIMA

Contact LeeAnna Mills for information on getting involved.
Northside Middle School
School phone: (205) 342-2740 , opt. 4
Click here to email LeeAnna Mills.  

How do I get started?

1. Learn who represents you and how to contact them.
-State information: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/ (Read bios to see what legislation they have introduced and supported.)
-ALA has great resources.
    -Capwiz will notify you when you need to make contacts. http://capwiz.com/ala/home
    -ALA's Stephanie Vance (known as the Advocacy Guru) has resources on these sites. http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=406 AND http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=452

2. Become an advocate.
-Learn about the issues (AIMA, ALMO, ALA websites)
-Create a one pager, highlighting your issue, your library, your programs, and your resources.
-Brainstorm your personal stories. Be sure to include these in meetings to help to make you more memorable.
-Use library funding letter provided graciously by Jane Smith for our use. Please feel free to adjust and personalize the letter as you see fit and send it to your legislators, and anyone else who will listen today!  You can click this link, or access it under Membership Resources.

3. Coordinate and communicate your message.
-Local to state and state to federal
-Ways to contact in order of effectiveness:
    -Phone calls (OK to leave message with secretary)
    -Emails/Faxes
    -Letters-on Federal level to District office
-Always follow up. This is a good chance to thank them.
-Remember: PERSISTANCE is key!

4. What we do and have done in the past:
-Annual Legislative Day in the spring (Travel to State House and go in person to meet with Legislators to ask them to support issues that are important to us.)
-National Legislative Day (Usually we participate in this virtually.)
-Host or co-host reception honoring Legislators.
-Present books or other tokens to our Legislators.

5. Possible ways to build relationships:
-Meet with them in person if all possible/use connections!
-Begin writing or emailing on a regular basis. Be sure to thank them for serving the public.
-Invite them to your library. (September is National Library Card Month.)
-Host receptions for legislators simultaneously throughout the state.