Advocacy Toolbox

Librarians unite! Libraries across the Commonwealth are facing many challenges, and now is the time to speak up and share the value of our our libraries. It is critical that librarians, trustees, Friends and even our patrons speak with a unified - and loud - voice so public officials understand the vital importance of libraries today. Take action!

Calling all members ... CMRLS needs your help!

With Regional consolidation ahead, it is important that library patrons understand the services we offer to libraries that may be affected by these plans. We've developed some materials to help get the word out.

We're asking all libraries to:

Link to these documents from your website, print copies of them and distribute them to patrons.

"CMRLS Delivers" flyer (pdf, 1 page)
This Item Traveled Miles bookmarks (pdf 1 page)
24 Miles of Books bookmarks (pdf, 1 page)

You can embed our Animoto video too!

Thank you for your help!

Advocacy resources for all libraries

Massachusetts Library Association Value of Library Use online calculator (external link)

Advocacy Talking Points compiled by CMRLS Executive Board members (MS Word, 4 pages)

American Library Association's (ALA) "Advocating in a Tough Economy" Toolkit (external link)

photo of a man with a megaphone ALA Online Advocacy Training: archived webinars on a number of topics to help you learn how to be an advocate for libraries (external link)

Libraries and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (economic stimulus plan) (external link)

Library Advocate's Handbook from ALA (external link)

Massachusetts Library Association Legislative Action Center (external link)

"Quotable Facts about America's Libraries" bookmarks (pdf, 1 page)

Wallet-sized "Quotable Facts About America's Libraries 2010" from ALA (pdf, 2 pages)

Advocacy resources for academic libraries

ALA's "Quotable Facts About Academic Libraries" bookmarks (pdf, 1 page)

Association of College and Research Libraries Issues and Advocacy page (external link)

Advocacy resources for public libraries

ALA's "Add It Up: Libraries Make the Difference in Youth Development and Education" site - resources for advocating for youth services in school and public libraries. (external link)

ALA's "Quotable Facts about Public Libraries" bookmarks (pdf, 1 page)

Public Library Association Issues & Advocacy page (external link)

Advocacy resources for school libraries

American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) Crisis Toolkit (external link)

AASL "School Library Health and Wellness Toolkit" - keep your library program healthy as you work to build the program and to prevent cuts. (external link)

photo of a woman in a meeting AASL Advocacy Toolkit - messages, ideas and strategies for promoting the value of school library media programs and library media specialists (external link)

ALA's "Add It Up: Libraries Make the Difference in Youth Development and Education" site - resources for advocating for youth services in school and public libraries. (external link)

ALA's "Quotable Facts About School Libraries" bookmarks (pdf, 1 page)

Take action on MA state issues! Click the image to find out how.

Don't wait ... contact your federal legislators!

Use this handy search tool to find their contact information.