Everyday Advocacy Action Plan for NJLA for April-June 2010

This advocacy action plan is intended to mobilize the libraries, librarians, support staff and supporters in our communities (Friends, Trustees, people in our communities who use and love the library) to save our libraries. It is intended to show that Libraries are Essential to Our Communities and to our State. This is a three month campaign to run from April through June 30, when the NJ State Budget has to be settled. It will have to be sustained to keep the momentum going to save NJ libraries. 

There are three goals: 

Goal 1: To keep intact the funding for statewide library services from the State of NJ, which provides the infrastructure for many core services for all types of libraries in NJ (academic, school, public, special).

Goal 2: To preserve the local funding formula for NJ public libraries.

Goal 3: To engage all supporters in everyday grassroots advocacy activities to Save our Libraries, and to help them to become Everyday Advocates for now and for the future of NJ libraries.

Objectives for all three Goals:

Objective 1: Develop sample materials and provide tools for the grassroots advocacy
campaign to be posted on the NJLA webpage to be used by advocates. Organize the campaign and communicate it frequently to NJLA members. (April 5)

• Develop and post sample materials for grassroots campaign on central portal NJLA (sample messages, sample letters to the editor, resolutions, talking points, postcards/ posters, capwiz messages). The Everyday Advocacy Subcommittee by April 5.)
• Add sample materials for the campaign as needed through June. 

Objective 2: a series of events will happen beginning with National Library Week, April 11-18, as outlined below:

• Send letters to the editor in support of libraries and funding to major statewide newspapers and in daily/ weekly papers representing the towns that support library service – at least 100;
• Solicit Op ed pieces in major statewide papers in support of libraries and funding;
• Seek Interview on NJN with Pat about the library crisis;
• Get Libraries to give out & collect postcards/ comment cards/ bookmarks/ posters for NJLA to deliver on May 6, NJ Legislative Day.(60,000 postcards)
• Get Save NJ Libraries icon on 300 library websites and get 20,000 new champions to send messages of support through Capwiz
• Ask local libraries to invite local officials to events during National Library Week and send photos to local newspapers; put on webpages through FLICKR; 
• Have 50 businesses/ agencies / library vendors write letters to newspapers and to legislators in support of libraries for helping with jobs, the economy, etc. 

Objective 3: Determine and execute effective strategy to use for Save NJ Libraries on Facebook to mobilize and harness the power of Facebook and other Web 2.0 supporters.

• Ask Web 2.0 librarians to supply effective – high impact / low work strategies and coordinate with them. 

• Ask grassroots supporters to coordinate with local library and director/ NJLA and attend local meetings with Mayors and Councils to relay message that libraries are essential to our communities; that preserving funding for local libraries “as is” is necessary and the importance of preserving funding for statewide infrastructure- 20 at each meeting. (Messaging and advocacy tools provided on www.savemynjlibrary.org.)

• Ask grassroots supporters, including trustees and Friends, to coordinate with local library and post messages of support on local community blogs that are read by local officials; (Messaging and advocacy tools provided on www.savemynjlibrary.org.) 

Objective 4: To organize NJLA’s Everyday Advocacy Campaign through June 30, to marshal strategic political connections and to best direct the process, in coordination with the NJ State Library, members of the NJ Library network, and other major stakeholders. To communicate with the library community in a very timely manner. 

• Determine how many legislative visits to make and make them in April and beyond to do the most good- coordinate with local libraries and supporters;
• Determine how many local mayors and councils to meet with and how best to harness local visits with and without NJLA;
• Collect copies of Resolutions in support of maintaining statewide library services and local funding formula for 300 libraries or more
• Post names of libraries / towns on NJLA website in support of maintaining funding for libraries / publish same information for political leaders to know;
• Weekly telephone conference meetings of Everyday Advocacy Committee to chart progress and revise accordingly;
• Explore commercials on radio or other than print format to capture wider audience and elected officials;
• Coordinate NJ Legislative Day and May 6, rally in Trenton
• Possible meeting with Governor Christie or his delegates? 
• Coordinate federal Legislative Day on June 29
• Involve NJ Emerging Leaders in visits and other work of this campaign
• More information will be forthcoming

Objective 5: To further mobilize Everyday Advocacy at NJLA April 26-28, Conference and ensure that attendees are advocates in one form or another;

• Use of capwiz
• Use of postcards / letters / stories – collect postcards at conference
• Sign up librarians and supporters for May 6, rally
• Use of Web 2.0 tools
• Vendor/ exhibit letters in support sent to Governor and legislators
 

Objective 6: Bring supporters to Trenton on May 6, for NJLA/ NJASL Joint Legislative Day & rally.

• Meet with ( x number of legislators) and get the message to them to Save our Libraries
• Meet with (x number of state senators) and get the message to them to Save our Libraries
• Have (5000 ? ) come to Trenton for a rally in support of libraries on the steps of the Statehouse/ State Library grounds
• Have NJN and appropriate media present for rally 
• Follow-up rally by having capwiz messages in support of libraries to sustain the effort through June 30;
• Recruit people to go to ALA Legislative Day on June 29

Objective 7: Explore alternative media, such as radio for short positive commercial about libraries and why they are essential to communities.

• One librarian pledged $5000 as a challenge if we could raise another $5000 from a group or individual for the purpose of alternative media – a good start
• Solicit funding for match
• Pick the brains of the Web 2.0 folks and Emerging Leaders for effective ideas on alternative strategies
 

Written by NJLA President, Susan Briant 3/27/10 Rev. 4/5/10
Adopted as guideline for advocacy campaign by NJLA Public Policy Committee on 4/1/10