ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 8, Number 24
March 12, 1999

In this issue:

25th National Library Legislative Day Set for May 4

Librarians, trustees and library supporters from across the 
country are urged to attend the 25th National Library Legislative 
Day on May 3-4 in Washington, D.C.  Registration forms are being 
accepted until Friday, April 16, 1999.  

"Librarians, trustees and library supporters must be among those 
who forcefully advocate in legislative halls," said ALA President 
Ann K. Symons.  "For 25 years National Library Legislative Day has 
been an opportunity for the library community to have a visible, 
unified voice on Capitol Hill."

National Library Legislative Day is sponsored by the District of 
Columbia Library Association, the ALA Washington Office and other 
participating organizations.

In 1998 more than 450 librarians, trustees and library supporters 
from 43 states and the District of Columbia visited congressional 
offices, told their library stories, and encouraged new 
legislative friends to support our nation's libraries at all 
levels -- local, state and national.

This year's theme, "Tell Your Library Story; Make New Friends for 
Libraries," has an important post-election focus for 1999.

"Library advocates' participation has never been more important," 
said ALA Washington Office Executive Director Carol C. Henderson. 
"For many newly-elected legislators in the 106th Congress, the 
relevance of libraries to their constituents' lives is not well 
understood."

She noted that a previously scheduled Senate recess has been 
cancelled and the Senate will be session.

Monday, May 3, will be Briefing Day, an all-day briefing session 
by Washington area experts and the ALA Washington Office staff to 
prepare participants for the next day's congressional visits. 

National Library Legislative Day on Tuesday, May 4, will begin 
with the Friends of the Libraries USA (FOLUSA) annual public 
service award presentation to two members of Congress, followed by 
a short briefing and send off for participants visiting 
congressional offices. The day will conclude with a wrap-up 
session for state coordinators to discuss the day's experiences, 
followed by the Congressional Reception. Registration for National 
Library Legislative Day is $8.
 
The registration form, more information and a list of state 
coordinators can be found on the ALA Web site at 
http://www.ala.org/washoff/legday.html, or contact Peter Kaplan at 
phk@alawash.org, or 1-800-941-8478.

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ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, 
Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 
toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web 
site: http://www.ala.org/washoff.  Editor: Lynne E. Bradley; 
Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Phyllis Albritton, 
Mary Costabile, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan, Claudette Tennant 
and Rick Weingarten.