from @ALALibrary tweet

Information about issues we will be advocating for are available in two briefing documents - Appropriation Brief and the Broadband Brief.

Advocacy really DOES makes a difference! Here's the link to the ALA Page.

We need your help to get our legislators to restore State Aid to libraries and library systems that the Governor proposed cutting in his 2018-2019 Executive Budget.

If you are able, please join us for New York Library Association (NYLA) Library Advocacy Day in Albany on Wednesday, February 28. Here is the link to the flyer with all of the information you need about motorcoach pickup locations and departure times.

Here is the link to register to join our delegation.

If you are unable to attend in person contact your legislator using NYLA's Online Advocacy Center. It is easy use and an effective way to let your legislators know you care about libraries and want them to support State Aid for libraries and library systems.

Article directly quoted from Beatrice Calvin, CDF, Manager, Professional Development at American Library Association. American Library Association - LinkedIn  

"... know any library workers who should be recognized for the great work they do, their positive outlook, or how the wonderful way they assist patrons? Let’s take the time to show our appreciation for those fantastic library stars!

Consider submitting their names to the ALA-APA Galaxy of Stars as part of National Library Workers Day celebration.

National Library Workers Day (NLWD) is Tuesday, April 11, 2017. It is a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.

The ALA-APA helps libraries and individuals prepare to celebrate by featuring a range of creative suggestions on its website. The National Library Workers Day web page encourages friends, patrons, employers and co-workers to “Submit a Star” by providing a brief testimonial about a favorite library employee. Each testimonial (listing first names, library type and city/state location only) will be posted on the NLWD’s Galaxy of Stars page. You may nominate as many library workers as you like.

Has your library celebrated National Library Workers Day in the past? Is your library planning to recognize and honor your library workers this year? Tell us about your plans. Please send your ideas and information to [email protected]. They will be posted in Library Worklife, the official newsletter of the ALA-APA. Be sure to share your celebrations on Twitter, using #NLWD17 and/or post to the NLWD Facebook page.

There’s still time to plan your celebrations to recognize library workers everywhere.

For more information, visit the ALA-APA National Library Workers Day website at: http://ala-apa.org/nlwd/."

Just checking in on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  work with US Libraries.

Here's the latest link form the foundation web site about their work to foster the community library as a safe Third Place in our lives.

and don't forget the GEEK Your Library program sponsored by OCLC and the Gates Foundation.

This recent article in the Boston Globe, "The new independent bookshop: It’s in your local library", is instructive in two ways.

1. It gets the word out to Bostonians that libraries are selling books.  Actually selling books.  In a bookstore.  And people are coming in and buying them.  Come to your Library and BUY BOOKS, just like in a REAL BOOKSTORE!
2. It shows the library community that we are not effective in getting the word out to our communities about ALL the services we offer and what we do every day, every year for our communities.

After you scan the Boston Globe article, take a look at this website out of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.  The Friends of the Cornwall Public Library/Les Amis de la Bibliothèque Publique de Cornwall have their own Friend's Space that was designed for them when the library moved to it's current location in the 90's.

The Friend's Group there is incredibly active and has done amazing work for the library, raising many thousands of dollars that they have given to the library to fund essential needs.  These are the people that do the work and bring in the people who normally wouldn't go to their library. 

These are the people who haul boxes of books, man the bookstore as volunteers and collect the money to help their library in a very real way.  This is what the article in the Boston Globe is reporting about.  We have had the privilege of knowing most of the people in this photograph, and we know the work that they do behind the scenes.

Thousands of libraries across the US and Canada have Friend's Bookstores.  Libraries are already doing nearly everything they can to bring in revenue to bolster dwindling funding.  Librarians must be more active in their communities.  Librarians must stand out, stand up and tell everyone about the services and amazing programs you offer at your libraries.

Thanks and fondest regards to Cornwall Public Library/Bibliothèque Publique de Cornwall.