Advocate for Law Libraries at AALL’s Day on the Hill 2009

Each year, January is an exciting time filled with anticipation for what the upcoming year will bring. In 2009, at least on the political level, this is especially true! With a new Administration and the start of the 111th Congress, there are many opportunities for AALL and law librarians. To take advantage of these opportunities, the AALL Government Relations Office needs your help to deliver our message to key members of Congress.

The Government Relations Office and Government Relations Committee invite you to become an effective advocate for law libraries by attending AALL’s Day on the Hill:  Legislative Advocacy Leadership Training 2009. During this year’s full-day Advocacy Training, you’ll learn about AALL’s pro-active legislative agenda, network with new colleagues, and develop your communication skills to help you become a successful advocate. Best of all, you’ll be able to practice your skills by spending the afternoon in meetings with your Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill. The Advocacy Training is free of charge and will take place right before the Annual Meeting on Friday, July 24, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. By coming to D.C. early, you’ll have time to explore the many treasures of our Nation’s capital before the Annual Meeting begins.

As a participant in our Advocacy Training, you’ll learn about the important issues on AALL’s legislative agenda, including:

• Adequate annual funding to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts for no-fee public access to PACER;
• A public domain citation system for legal information;
• The enactment of “Orphan Works” legislation to allow libraries to digitize and make publicly available materials whose copyright owners cannot be found despite extensive and costly searches; and,
• The repeal of Section 215 (the so-called “library” provision) of the USA PATRIOT Act which is due to sunset on December 31, 2009.

In addition, you’ll hear from this year’s special guest speaker, “Advocacy Guru” Stephanie Vance. Ms. Vance will lead an educational and fun session on what you need to know to build successful relationships with your lawmakers. With more than 15 years of experience working with Congress, Ms. Vance knows the tricks of the trade and she’ll turn you into an advocacy expert, too! By the time you're finished with the morning session, you'll be armed with the tools you need to get your message heard on Capitol Hill and beyond.

AALL Day on the Hill is a wonderful opportunity for law librarians new to advocacy as well as those “expert advocates” who want to learn the latest issues, practice their skills, and spend an afternoon on Capitol Hill. To register, please contact Emily Feldman at efeldman@aall.org by June 15. We look forward to seeing you here in July!