Advocacy

This site is created to share information to assist law librarians advocating for funding and legislation. Types of information will include sample letters, resolutions and statistical information. Thanks to all those who are willing to share their work.

AALL Resources

AALL Advocacy Web Page: Government Relations, Legal Research Competency, and Vendor Relations

https://www.aallnet.org/advocacy/

Resources for advocacy in government relations include

  • State Issues
  • Issue Briefs & Reports
  • Formal Statements
  • Legislative Action Center
  • Washington EBulletin
  • Advocacy Toolkit
  • Access To Government Information
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property
  • Open Government
  • Privacy

Advocacy Listserv: AALL Advocates Community

Sign up to receive regular posts from AALL's Government Relations Committee, action alerts with talking points, and information about upcoming advocacy opportunities and trainings.

Legislative Action Center

2018 Annual Meeting program: Advocacy Leadership: Law Librarians Ignite Change (C7) on Sunday, July 15, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Advocacy Toolkit

The Advocacy Toolkit is designed to help AALL members become effective advocates for law libraries. Divided into sections for individuals and chapters, the Toolkit will help you become familiar with AALL's information policy priorities and learn the skills you need to make a difference for law libraries at the Federal and state levels. The Toolkit includes material with specific tips on hosting tours, testifying in legislation hearings, writing for the media, building coalitions, and more.

In addition, there are several recent videos on advocacy available free on the AALL website:

Advocating for Information Policy Change on Capitol Hill
Emily Feltren
April 11, 2018

Advocates and Influencers: How Law Librarians Can Impact the New Congress and New Administration
Emily Feltren
December 13, 2016

Speaking Up and Speaking Out: Influencing Your Members of Congress in Favor of Law Libraries
Emily Feltren
April 20, 2017

SIS Virtual Training: Government Relations
Emily Feltren
May 21, 2018

Information about AALL’s public policy priorities and opportunities for SIS involvement.

Examples of Advocacy by AALL Members

Outreach to Legislative and Judicial Officials: Comments on Proposals

Comment on Proposed California Rule of Court 10.960, Court Self Help Centers (From the Council of California County Law Libraries)

Report on the Assembly of Court Associations Meeting (June 2-3, 2006, Arlington, VA) judges, professional court staff and National Center for State Courts (NCSC) personnel gathered in Arlington, VA, to discuss issues relating to "judicial independence."

Letter to Washington State Judiciary Committee From Maria Sosnowski, Clark County Law Librarian (February 23, 2005) Letter in support of bill to raise county law library funding, comparing costs and revenues.

Data for Advocacy: Authorization and Funding of Government Law Libraries

Law Libraries in All States (Excel Chart), Margaret Kiel-Morse (2015)
Excel spreadsheet showing state, court, and county law libraries for each state, plus funding and statutory authority.

Funding Sources for Law Libraries Serving Local Jurisdictions.(Word document)

A 50-state chart of funding mechanisms and statutory authority.

Comments and Advocacy to Legislatures and Judiciaries

NOCALL Call to Action (PDF)
Judy Janes, Government Relations Committee (GRC) NOCALL, David McFadden, GRC SCALL, and Rachel Green, GRC SANDALL, 2018 A call to members of NOCALL (Northern California Association of Law Libraries), SCALL (Southern California Association of Law Libraries), and SANDALL (San Diego Area Law Libraries) for letters in support of special law library budget appropriation, with sample letter to the legislator or governor.

Florida Resolution (2004) (PDF)
The Florida State Court & County Law Libraries, Inc. drafted this resolution urging the legislature to establish a task force to study law library issues and recommend funding sources.

"The Washington State Legislative Story" (PDF)
Jean Holcomb, formerly of the King County Law Library, has written a short account of the efforts of the Washington Association of County Law Libraries to gain further legislative support. (2005)

Washington State Civil Legal Needs Study.Task Force on Civil Equal Access Funding
Washington State Supreme Court (Sept. 2003).

Public Outreach Infographics and Videos

"Who have you helped today?" (video)
California Council of Law Libraries video (2011) Brief statements from various California public law librarians about patrons they have helped.

Mark Estes, Law Library Director, Bernard E. Witkin Alameda County Law Library, California, has created several infographics to share with the public on the value of county law libraries:

American Library Association: ALA Office for Library Advocacy

The ALA offers librarians, including law librarians, advocacy resources at www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/ola. The site includes an Advocacy University, for librarians who are interested in advocating but don’t know how to get started or be effective, discussing barriers to advocacy, coalition building, working with elected officials, and more. Also includes "Frontline Advocacy", on using your interactions with the public to advocate, which contains a section for "corporate, government, and other libraries." Also

Driving Advocacy with Data, archived webinar (Oct. 18, 2012) (http://www.ala.org/tools/research/initiatives/plftas/presentations) Focuses on the 2012 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study (PLFTAS), it tells how to interpret the latest data and emerging trends; access new advocacy and marketing tools, including state profiles, issue briefs and PR templates; and use the data to make the case for your library with elected officials and community stakeholders.

Special Library Association

Advocacy Toolkit Tools to help illustrate how essential information professionals are to people outside the profession . Discusses developing mission and vision statements, communicating via storytelling, working with disengaged management, and using metrics and external benchmarks to demonstrate value.