Welcome to

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Welcome to Get Legislators in Your Library!

• An ALA Washington, Office Webinar

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Topics

• About the webinar
• Why district visits are important
• Basic online information
• Basic legalities
• Addressing barriers to participation
• What advocates need to know to set up winning
  site visits

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Whos Talking?
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Whos Talking?
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About the Webinar

• Whats happening?
• Muting and QA
• Polls
• Follow-up Materials and Recording
• Available on ALAs District Dispatch at
  http//wo.ala.org/districtdispatch

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Where are we starting from?

• Lets go to the poll

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Why Are Site Visits Important? DC Style

• Always on
• Non-stop voting, meetings and receptions
• Likely living in less comfortable quarters
• May not be with family

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Why Are Site Visits Important? Home-Style

• More relaxed
• More personable
• More comfortable
• Often with family

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What Does This Mean?

• Visiting with elected officials in their
  districts is ALWAYS a good use of time

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Basic Online Information

• Who are my elected officials?
• Who should I contact and how?
• When are the recesses (a.k.a. district work
  periods)
• House
• Senate
• General
• Do my elected officials have events scheduled?

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Basic Legalities

• Advocacy vs. Lobbying
• Are you a public employee?
• What are the requirements in your state?
• What are the federal requirements?
• To be on the safe side

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Playing it Safe

• Playing nice with others
• Non-legislative asks (i.e., education vs.
  lobbying)
• Better to ask forgiveness than permission?

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Barriers to Action

• Lets go to the poll!
• Choose as many as apply

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Possible Barrier Its Too Hard (or, the
corollary, Im Not Sure What to Do!)

• Answer Resources, resources, resources

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Making it Easier Build on Existing Events

• A few examples from the library world
• Uinta Public Library
• Anderson County Library System
• University of Nebraska Omaha
• Who wants to be next?
• What are members of Congress up to?
• Check on townhall meeting schedules

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Existing Events Hosting a Townhall at your
Library

• What is a townhall?
• Working with legislator
• Independent
• How do they take place?
• In-person
• Virtual
• Telephone
• How do you do it?
• General overview

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Townhall checklist
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Making it Easier Use Every Resource at Your
Disposal

• No need to reinvent the wheel
• ALA online site visit information
• ALA Advocacy Institute
• Visit template
• Article on effective meetings
• Assistance from ALA
• Check in with your State Organization

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Members of Congress are Scary and Unresponsive

• Answer Approach them appropriately

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Appropriate Approach Invite the Staff

• DC and/or district staff are great for starter
  visits. Why?
• Easier to arrange
• Staff can become advocates within the office for
  your cause

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Appropriate Approach Show them the Benefits

• Why would they want to come?
• Hint puppies and children are always good draws
• Whats in it for them?
• How can you be flexible?
• What are the alternatives?
• Statement to read
• Virtual participation
• Following up after a cancellation

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Appropriate Approach Engage the Media

• After confirming with the elected official, call
  local media outlets and let them know
• Who is coming.
• When they are coming.
• Why he/she is coming.
• How this story will inform/interest their
  readership/viewers.
• Contact Jenni Terry, press officer for the ALA
  Washington Office (jterry_at_alawash.org
  202-403-8208), for assistance with contacting
  your local media.
• Be sure to work in TANDEM with the legislator
  dont surprise them with the press!

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It Doesnt Make a Difference

• Answer Your Power as Constituents

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Your Power as Constituents Examples

• Recent surveys point to the power of in-district
  activity
• CMF
• The Congressional Record doesnt lie

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Always Bear in Mind

• Fewer quality contacts are far superior, in terms
  of impact on elected officials, than quantity
  contacts.
• Focus on getting just a few visits this recess
  then a few more then a few more. Pretty soon
  youll have dozens scheduled every recess!

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The Five Minute Action Plan

• What will you do next?
• Be sure to let ALA know if youve scheduled any
  visits!

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Questions?