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SAN JUAN ISLAND LIBRARY |
Related pagesSan Juan Island Library Web site Previous columnsAmerican Library Association – the "working conference" San Juan Island Reads - The Human Factor |
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Library Legislative Day
This last week Ruth Offen, Library Trustee President, Shannan, and I headed down to Olympia to lobby for libraries. We were taking part in our annual Library Legislative Day organized by the Washington Library Association (WLA). The day started in a basement meeting room crowed full of other librarians ready to hear the game plan. We were welcomed by the President of WLA and listened to a provocative keynote address by David Postman, Chief Political Reporter for the Seattle Times. This was followed by an update on the State Library by our State Librarian, Jan Walsh, and a legislative update and issues briefing by Legislative Consultant, Steve Duncan.
With our fact sheets and briefs in hand we set off to try and grab a few minutes of our district legislators time. However, meetings were not guaranteed as the legislators were on the floor all day. So joining forces with other libraries from our district and armed with advice from our morning orientation we elbowed our way in next to sharply dressed lobbyists. Our first attempt to speak to Senator Harriet Spanel was met with a "try again in about 15-20 minutes" from her aide. Not deterred we went straight to the office of Representative Jeff Morris. He was not in at all that day due to a family situation, but we spent some time speaking to his aide and leaving a packet of information. Back to Senator Spanel. This time we were able to pull her off the floor and speak to her on levy lid lift, rural county library district, and Washington state heritage center legislation.
Then across the hallway we spotted Representative Dave Quall speaking to another group. With an okay from his aide, we stopped him on his way back on the floor and lobbied for libraries again. At the end of it all we even had a chance meeting with our Secretary of State and strong State Library supporter, Sam Reed. It was a very successful as well as energizing day. We accomplished what we set out to do by advocating for libraries and working to establish a relationship with our legislators. Maybe we will even get a legislator up here to see our library this summer. For information about current library related legislation go to www.wla.org/legislation/index.html#wa
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