During my time as a chapter leader in Iowa, I witnessed firsthand how swiftly state and regional chapters can mobilize. When a bill that threatened codified funding for public libraries was proposed in the state legislature last year, more than 700 library board members responded statewide. The bill failed to advance.
Likewise, our state association has challenged other bills designed to curtail access, intellectual freedom, and professional integrity. Each time, Iowa Library Association has mobilized quickly to alert members to these proposals, provide action plans, and connect with community partners. These nimble responses are possible because chapters know the local context, the lawmakers, and the stakes.
In libraries, as in life, we learn to listen closely for the signals that tell us about our health and direction. In our profession, those signals often come from our chapters, like state library associations. They are our heartbeat, our first indicators of new trends, the tightening pressure on legislative challenges, and the steady rhythm of community needs. Library workers and members of the public rely on chapters to interpret these signals and respond effectively.
The American Library Association is committed to advocating year-round, at every level of government, on behalf of libraries, library workers, and the communities we serve. This work requires a top-down, bottom-up, and every-which-way approach. At the national level, ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office (PPAO) represents libraries in the halls of Congress and beyond. The PPAO team follows and informs national legislation on copyright, net neutrality, E-Rate, funding, and more. Working alongside member-driven groups, such as the Committee on Library Advocacy (COLA) and the Committee on Legislation, PPAO develops ALA’s annual legislative agenda and provides support to chapters.
The Chapter Relations Office (CRO), housed within PPAO, plays a key role in strengthening the connection between local and national advocacy. There are 57 recognized ALA chapters, representing library workers in each state, the District of Columbia, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and four regions. CRO provides advocacy resources, leadership training, and bill-tracking tools tailored to each chapter’s needs. As Lisa Varga, associate executive director of PPAO, has said, chapters are vital to the existence and ecosystem of ALA. Each has its own personality and priorities, and having strong state leaders who can connect with local decision makers keeps ALA strategically afloat.
Advocacy takes many forms, and not everyone needs to be at the podium. COLA recently updated its Advocacy Action Plan Workbook, a free resource designed to help advocates at every level create concrete action plans. It offers step-by-step guidance for turning concern into impact.
Our work must also involve more than library workers. To succeed, we must galvanize the public. Every conversation with a neighbor, friend, or community leader is an opportunity to connect them with advocacy resources. Encourage your networks to sign up for ALA action alerts, contact legislators, and share stories about why libraries matter.
Our shared advocacy—local and national, nimble and strategic—ensures that libraries remain essential to learning, literacy, and a democratic society. As you sip your morning coffee, consider one action you can take to support your chapter’s advocacy efforts.
Libraries are the heart of every community they serve. Together we can ensure those hearts beat in unison and that our circulation remains strong.
