• Indiana Pacers (and Foundation) for their support of the community,
  reading, and libraries.

   

• Hoosier Family of Readers Initiative for encouraging Indiana adults to form "reading families" to build a culture of reading.

• Homeport Bright Ideas Book Bank for providing books to families that are part of Homeport's housing programs (providing homes to homeless families)

The group also decided to write up one concern to send to AASL:

• The concern that there are public libraries 'taking over' school libraries.

In addition, the regional meeting was a time for the state organizations to share information including information about their conferences, recruiting membership, organizational business practices, state book awards, and more.  Gwenn and I both walked away with ideas for our organization and our upcoming conferences.

May 5th and 6th were ALA's National Library Legislative Day. A huge thank you to the Michigan National Library Legislative Day Delegation especially to MAME Members -- Regina Cable, LaRene Klink, and Deb Biggs-Thomas who went to Washington DC and met with legislative offices to advocate for libraries including school libraries. A listserv notice went out to all MAME members to participate in Virtual National Library Legislative Day. Thanks to all MAME members who participated. By the way, you don't have to be an American Library Association (ALA) member to sign up for ALA policy action alerts. Visit this site to find out more about it.

All my best to everyone. Hoping that the "end of the school year" goes well for all!

LMS Get Loud!

Fellow MAME members, I was fortunate to be selected as one of two librarians from Michigan to attend the 40th ALA National Library Legislative Day May 4-6, 2014 funded by Gale Cengage.  It was an amazing advocacy experience and I hope you will consider participating in the future.

On Sunday, May 4th, I attended a training session at the ALA D.C. headquarters where I learned how to approach legislators and staffers as an advocate. It was an insider's guide to everything an advocate should know.

Monday, May 5th, was a full day of learning about the key issues and bills under consideration by Congress that are supported by the ALA. Most directly pertain to funding for schools and libraries such as ESEA, Library Services Technology Act(LSTA), early learning programs, E-Rate, Network Neutrality, Open Access, Email Privacy Act, USA Freedom Act, and the Workforce Investment Act(WIA).

Tuesday May 6th, was Advocacy Day. Our Michigan delegation met Senator Stabenow for her "Hello Michigan" coffee after which four of us met with one of her staffers to begin our advocacy day.  I went on to have meetings with John Conyers' staffer in the Congressman's office followed by a meeting with Kerry Bentivolio's staffer. Bentivolio is from the 11th Congressional District where I live. 

The interactions I had while in Washington were some of the most positive and rewarding I have experienced. I shared our district's story of ongoing support for our library programs. In discussions with Congressional staffers, I pointed out how students will benefit from the support and passage of these important bills. The staffers were well prepared and had a deep understanding of their boss's position on the issues. It was very refreshing to have an open and honest dialogue on political issues.  

I was grateful for the opportunity to attend the NLLD and to take the district's story to Washington. Please consider attending the 41st ALA NLLD in Washington, D.C. in 2015.

Thank you, Gale Cengage for your support of our school library programs.

Regina Cable

Library Media Specialist

Fraser Public Schools