Legislation Day:
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 Schedule
Postcard to Legislators
Print and send to your legislators
LEGISLATION: HD4254An Act Creating a Special Commission on School Library Services in the Commonwealth
READ MORE TALKING POINTS
Legislation Day Schedule: Who Needs Libraries? We ALL Do! On Wednesday, April 11 the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) and MLA are holding their annual Legislative Day at the State House. MSLA: In Room 437 9am – Registration and breakfast reception 9:30am – Briefing on MSLA legislation 10-11am – MSLA Legislator Advocate Award to Rep. Sean Garballey MSLA Student Bookmark Contest Awards ceremony (view 2012 winners, honorable mentions )
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 10 April 2012 )
|
|
|
Currently being sponsored by Sean Garbally and a host of other legislators. Check back for updates.
An Act Creating a Special Commission on School Library Services in the Commonwealth There shall be a special commission to study Massachusetts Public School Library programs consisting of two (2) members of the Senate: one of whom shall be the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education or his/her designee, and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party who shall be appointed by the minority leader; two (2) members of the House of Representatives: one of whom shall be the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education or his/her designee, and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party who shall be appointed by the minority leader; provided, however, that one (1) member of the House of Representatives shall be designated as Co-chair of the Commission; the Commissioner of Education, or his designee; the president of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, or his designee; the president of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, or his designee; the president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, or his designee; the president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, or his designee; two (2) Executive Board members of the Massachusetts School Library Association; one (1) member each from the Massachusetts Library Association, the Massachusetts Library System, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners; and two (2) persons to be appointed by the governor. The Co-Chairs shall convene the organizational session of the commission not later than 60 days after the effective date of this Act. The special commission shall make an investigation to determine the status of Massachusetts public school library programs, including but not limited to: 1) an investigation of how many schools in each district have a school library and a credentialed school librarian and in how many schools are these full-time positions; 2) an assessment of the ratio of students per credentialed school librarian; 3) an assessment of what other support staff work in the school library program; 4) an investigation of how school libraries are scheduled; 5) an investigation of the hours school libraries are open each week for students and faculty to use; 6) an investigation of how many hours each week school librarians provide direct library-related instruction to students; 7) an assessment of how many computers are in school libraries for students to access; 8) an investigation of the size and age of the collection in each school library, and the extent of electronic and digital materials available for students to access; 9) an investigation of current funding per student for school library materials and services; 10) any other matters that the special commission considers relevant to the fulfillment of its mission and purpose. The special commission may conduct public hearings to gather information, including the sponsorship of statewide or regional conferences involving educators, students or the public at large. The Massachusetts Department of Education shall provide staff and other resources as the commission and those agencies consider appropriate. The special commission will generate a report at the end commission’s work that creates a long-range plan for Massachusetts’ school library programs that may include the adoption of guidelines for school library facilities, budget, staffing, collection development, and curriculum standards for school library programs. The special commission shall make its final report and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the Joint Committee on Education not later than_____2012. The special commission may make such interim reports, as it considers appropriate. |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 10 April 2012 )
|
|
|
 April 12, 2012 Sponsored by: MLA, MBLC, MSLA, and MLS |
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 17 March 2012 )
|
|
|
National Advocacy for School Libraries |
|
|
|
Library Advocacy Day, Washington DC: Tuesday, June 29, 2010A letter from ALA President, Camila Alire
Dear Mr. PresidentA letter from Buffy Hamilton, shared on School Library Journal February 4, 2010
Jobs Bill does not include Librarians Out of Work Librarians Need Your Help NOW! (February 5, 2010)
From Kristin Murphy, American Library Association Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced yesterday that he will bring the Senate's $80 billion version of the Jobs for Main Street Act or the "jobs bill" to the Senate floor sometime next week.
Libraries are not in this bill, and it is more important than ever that you call your Senators and encourage them to include librarians in the $20.5 billion section that is being used to hire and retain teachers, police, and firefighters.
Also, if you are in a state where librarians are represented by a union, please have your local union contact your national union to contact the Senate.
Please call your Senators today at the U.S. Capital switchboard: 202-224-3121 Libraries are as essential as schools and public safety and help the economy by helping people find jobs. Yet library jobs are being cut - and, now, not included in this jobs bill. It is vitally important that librarians be as vocal as these other public employees. The reason they are getting funding in this piece of legislation is because they are calling their congressional offices more often and in higher numbers than we are.
Your grassroots efforts are critically important. The omission of librarians in the jobs bill is in addition to the troubling news this week that President Obama's budget proposal freezes the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and consolidates the school library program with literacy programs in the Department of Education. These cuts will lead to a loss of jobs and a loss of services that our communities cannot afford to be without.
Please call both of your U.S. Senators to ask each of them to request that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), include the hiring and retaining of librarians in their jobs bill.
This bill could come up at any moment and it is critically important that you contact your Senators' offices immediately and tell them to push the above Senate leaders to include librarians in the jobs bill. Don't just call once - keep calling until we succeed. Make sure to tell your senators what your library is doing to help people find jobs.
We cannot let this legislation pass without the inclusion of library employees. We have no chance of getting into this legislation without your calls and emails - and the support of all senators!! |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 February 2010 )
|
|
|
ALA Advocacy Day June 29, 2010 |
|
|
|
|
 As you know, the ALA 2010 Annual Conference will be in Washington, D.C. this summer, June 25-June 29th. We are looking for another large turnout in D.C.! To take advantage of our location next to Capitol Hill, ALA will be hosting a national Library Advocacy Day (LAD) rally on Tuesday, June 29.
LAD will bring together thousands of librarians, trustees, friends and library supporters starting at 11:00am at the United State Park on the U.S. Capitol grounds. Each state will rally with banners and signs supporting libraries! We'd love for you to be part of your state delegation and to visit congressional offices after the rally. Please plan to join us on Tuesday, June 29 for Library Advocacy Day! Visit www.ala.org/lad for more information and to get started. ALA will provide transportation to and from the convention center for all those going to the rally. We will also have luggage check-in at the convention center if you have a flight leaving later in the day. I know that Library Advocacy Day will be a highlight of my conference. I hope that you can participate - and speak up to Congress about libraries, too! When registering for the ALA 2010 Annual Conference at www.ala.org/annual , be sure to choose 'Rally for Libraries - Library Advocacy Day' in Special Events section of the registration form. There is no additional charge to participate in LAD, but we'd like you to let us know by registering for Library Advocacy Day event. Please visit www.ala.org/lad to keep up to date on preparations for Library Advocacy Day.
Hope to see you there! Sincerely, 
Camila A. Alire
President
American Library Association |
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 February 2010 )
|
|
MSLA Crisis Assistance ToolsSix Things to Do Right Now as Budget Decisions are Being Made
DOWNLOAD: Word Document PDF Document Letter to your Administrators/School Committee
Adapt for your needs. Or, contact Executive Director Kathy Lowe to have MSLA to send this letter on your behalf.
DOWNLOAD: Word Document PDF Document Letter from MSLA president, Sandy Kelly
To MA superintendents late May 2009.
DOWNLOAD: Word Document PDF Document MSLA Advocacy Initiative Wiki
A wealth of tips and tools; use this resource for local advocacy efforts and presentations. STRENGTHEN your program....the next steps
Suggestions for "adding value" to your program and to your personal credentials
This is a terrific kit from the American Association of School Libraries "If you are looking at the AASL Crisis Toolkit, chances are your program is danger of being reduced or eliminated. This kit is designed to assist you as you build meaningful and effective support for saving your program. That means educating and rallying stakeholders to speak out on behalf of school libraries." |
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 January 2010 )
|
|
|
2010 Legislation Advocacy |
|
|
|
Legislative Breakfasts
Scheduled January 29 through March 5th
March 9th is Legislation Day: Be There!PRESS RELEASE: Rally at 2010 Legislation Day
POSTCARD TO LEGISLATORS Mail to your legislators from your home and work districts by MARCH 1st
The annual MLA-MSLA Legislation Day is Tuesday March 9th at the Massachusetts State House in Boston from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
SAVE OUR REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM! MLA and MSLA join in lobbying to save the Regions from proposed budget cuts.
All MSLA members are urged to join in this important effort to show lawmakers the important role of libraries as "agents of recovery" as we help the public with services they need right now--from books and videos to computer access. Schedule: 10:00 a.m. MSLA Bookmark Awards Ceremony at the Grand Staircase11:00 a.m. Rally for Massachusetts Libraries on the State House steps12:00 p.m. Lunch, featuring author Moying Li, winner of the Massachusetts Center for the Book Nonfiction Award, and presentation of the MLA Advocacy Award to a legislator Visit with local representatives and state senators throughout the day
TRANSPORTATION from the West: Take the Bus! |
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 12 February 2010 )
|
|
|
2011 Legislation Advocacy |
|
|
|
March 28th was Legislation Day - THANK YOU to all our supporters
PICTURES!
Legislative Day & Bookmark Contest Awards are up on the MSLA Facebook Page – check them out!
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 01 April 2011 )
|
|
|
Advocacy