You don’t need to stream C-SPAN or binge West Wing reruns to know that the annual US federal budget process isn’t always linear or logical. Progress is incremental, margins are razor-thin, and, as the library community has felt acutely over the last year, victories are rarely final.
To help equip and energize advocates in an environment of heightened stakes, the American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Policy and Advocacy Office launched a webinar series as part of its Show Up for Our Libraries campaign. The sixth installment, “Turning Congressmembers into Library Champions,” brought together voices from the library side and the congressional side last fall to demystify the engagement process and provide practical tips for getting your representatives’ attention.
This excerpt features moderator Susan Braukus Hempstead, assistant director of strategic relations and communications at Sno-Isle Libraries in Washington State and chair of ALA’s Committee on Legislation, in conversation with Kate Alderete, director of Albuquerque–Bernalillo County (N.Mex.) Library System, and author Brad Fitch, former CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Braukus Hempstead: Kate, tell us about your experience as a library director working to move a member of Congress from a supporter to a true library champion.
Alderete: I’m one of the lucky ones, because when I started diving into advocacy work, one of my congressmen at the time—Ben Ray Luján (D-N.Mex.), who’s now a senator—had already been named Reforma Legislator of the Year, so he’d done a lot of work to get to that point. He consistently signs “Dear Appropriator” letters, he supports broadband efforts within tribal libraries, and he’s continued to fund our rural libraries with actual big bucks to get some work done. I’ve also had an opportunity to work with our other senator, Martin Heinrich (D-N.Mex.), who has helped direct federal funds to telehealth services through our state’s libraries.
When libraries are able to bridge the gap between what libraries do and what we can actually move forward as far as agenda items for members of Congress, that’s what turns them from supporters of libraries into library champions.
Braukus Hempstead: Brad, you worked for many years as a congressional staffer. Could you share a time when an advocate’s relationship-building efforts truly affected a congressperson’s actions?
Fitch: One of the important things about telling your story is humanizing the experience in a way that only you can, as a local librarian, to localize and put a face to issues that are sometimes invisible at the federal level.
One example from my research: I was interviewing members of the House of Representatives, and one of the best questions I asked, that I got really good data from, was, “Tell me about an incident or an issue that you had difficulty coming to a conclusion on, and what was the catalyst that made you come to a decision?”
One congressman told me about struggling with a vote on federal funding for stem cell research when he met a constituent during a fly-in. He was 17 years old and had juvenile diabetes and talked about his hope that this research might someday lead to a cure.
And the congressman looked at me and said, “That meeting just stuck with me.” He told me how he did further research and ended up cosponsoring legislation to provide federal funding for stem cell research—and he was a pro-life Republican.
That’s the power of storytelling. The neuroscience, the psychology of persuasion, tells us that storytelling is way more effective than rational spreadsheets. Start collecting stories—about yourself, a colleague, a patron—because having that story ready when you interact with the lawmaker or their staff is absolutely essential.
Braukus Hempstead: How would you define a member of Congress being a supporter versus being a champion on issues?
Alderete: I want to say outright that politicians don’t get to label themselves champions; we get to do that. We see all the time that politicians consider themselves library champions, and they will throw that word around, but there’s nothing in their record to actually support that. When we see that happen—and we’ll all deal with this at some point—it’s our responsibility to hold politicians’ feet to the fire.
When you continue to see your members of Congress moving library issues forward—whether local, state, or national—and when libraries are being funded, that’s a mark of someone who’s moved from being a supporter to a champion.
Fitch: One metric I would use is: Have they visited the library? And did that visit get some kind of media, social media, or other coverage? If you bring in a politician, and they’re reading with kids and get a picture taken, it’s really hard for them to say no when you go back to them and tell them those programs could go away.
One of the messages I always give to my trainees is: If officials say yes to something, don’t take yes for an answer. Always elevate it. If they agree to a library visit, ask them to sign appropriations letters. Mention your state appropriations chairs by name.
Many groups I work with are too hesitant to keep pushing, but it’s really okay. Do you think the National Rifle Association hesitates? You think the National Association of Realtors hesitates? No way. And that’s who you’re competing with for attention. Elected officials have a limited amount of political capital they can dole out in any given year, and you want to do everything you can to direct some of that to libraries.
Braukus Hempstead: Brad, what are some pitfalls that advocates may face when they first seek to build a relationship, either with staff or a member of Congress?
Fitch: Try to build a relationship with the state staff. They’re the ones who are going to be your champions. Every one of you should have a relationship with the House district director for your member of Congress. You have agency as a librarian representing your community. They will meet with you.
One of the mistakes I see is not involving your network. If you’ve got board members or high-profile patrons you know are library supporters, involve them in the process. It doesn’t have to be a big ask; it might just be a letter to the editor or coming to the library when the member of Congress is there. When you can bring in people from different walks of life and show representatives how they’re connected to the library, the congressperson will connect the dots. If a politician can say yes once and make two people happy, they love that math.
It’s a rookie mistake—and I’ve made this mistake—to think that because we hold opposing viewpoints, we have different values.”—Kate Alderete, director of Albuquerque–Bernalillo County (N.Mex.) Library System
Lastly, always have a specific ask and be bold with laying out the stakes. Tell them, “If we don’t get this funding, this program may go away, or we may have to cut hours.” It doesn’t have to be definitive, but if that representative thinks they’re going to be partially responsible for it, and that it might get out, that’s a big deal.
Braukus Hempstead: Brad, what are your tips for doing homework on your congressperson and their staff to build that relationship?
Fitch: Start with seeing what news stories are coming out. Look at their websites and the press releases they’re putting out. And look up their social media feeds. That will give you a really good view of what they’re prioritizing and what their voice is like.
Often, members of Congress have a “recess voice” that’s very different than their “D.C. voice,” so don’t just look at their feed when they’re in Washington, where everybody’s tweet is the same: “We’re great and here’s why.” It’s boring.
If you’re meeting with a staffer, they’re all on LinkedIn and it’s okay to look them up. Who knows, maybe you went to the same college, or your kids’ college, any connection. But stay away from their personal accounts on other platforms.
Braukus Hempstead: Kate, what is the most rewarding thing you’ve found about this work and building this relationship?
Alderete: It’s extremely rewarding when you see relationships leading to funding moving forward. But another really valuable relationship that builds up is your relationship with other advocates. What I can say and who I can say it to is kind of limited, as far as members of Congress and even state people and city people. But I can text my friends from other libraries that I’ve worked with to push issues forward.
Braukus Hempstead: Brad, what can advocates do to make sure the relationship is rewarding, not only for them but also for the members of Congress and staff with whom they’re engaging?
Fitch: Everybody comes to Congress asking for something. Very few people come to Congress offering something. Offer something. When you’re with that staff member, say, “What can I do to help you understand the impact of libraries? Would it be helpful if I brought in some of our patrons or board members?” Guide their decision-making process by inviting them to give you a suggestion.
For the members, appreciate that they’re under a lot of pressure. Leading with empathy really makes a difference and will separate you from the other groups that just come in with their talking points asking for something.
Braukus Hempstead: This question is difficult but important. How can we engage with our members of Congress, even if we seem to hold opposing views or values on issues that are important to libraries and their communities?
Alderete: It’s a rookie mistake—and I’ve made this mistake—to think that because we hold opposing viewpoints, we have different values.
When I was starting out in advocacy, I was sitting at an ALA fly-in event, and someone asked me, “How do you think your meetings are going to go?” And I said something like, “Oh, they’re going to go fine, all of my representatives and senators are Democrats.” Immediately someone said to me, “Well, what difference does that actually make?” I thought about that moment a few years later when I was in a room with a Republican representative, and we talked about all the good work libraries do within our states.
The mistake is not realizing that there is common ground between what libraries do and the goals that most members of Congress are trying to move forward. Think about things like telehealth, broadband, quality of life for seniors, early education for children. These are bipartisan quality-of-life issues for all.
It’s important to look at what those “opposing viewpoint” members of Congress find valuable and important, and the work they’re trying to move forward, and then we need to say to ourselves as library people, “How can my library support that?” Or, “How is my library already supporting that?”
That’s my tip for getting over that hump, because it can be hard. We are in very divisive times right now. But again, we’re all people. When you’re sitting in an office, remember that you’re there as a constituent, you’re from the same state. Very likely you’ve got lots in common. Look to see what that is.
Fitch: First of all, don’t assume that their public persona is their private persona. They have outdoor voices and indoor voices. And they’re looking for a reason to say yes to you.
Not to diminish the importance of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and some of the things you’re working on, but from a budgetary, government standpoint, we’re not talking about big dollars, not up there with things like defense and Social Security. On some levels that’s an advantage; you’re such a force multiplier. These grants that fund staff at the state level, at the local level, are translated into programs that have community-wide impact.
Your best argument with people you think will oppose you is: “You’re not going to get a better bang for your buck than by investing in libraries, and I dare you to prove me wrong.”
Access ALA’s free advocacy resources at ala.org/showup, sign up for advocacy alerts at ala.org/takeaction, and use the hashtag #ForOurLibraries to spread the word on social media.
