Library Advocacy Day 2022 Goes Virtual!
On March 2, 2022, #LibraryAdvocates across the state will join together virtually for NYLA's Annual Library Advocacy Day. We cannot wait to join together to advocate for funding and policies that benefit and strengthen our libraries.
Get Involved & Take Action
Learn how you can get involved in Library Advocacy Day as a...
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/Social_Media_Button_2_(1).png "Library Worker")
/Social_Media_Button_3_(1).png "Trustee")
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Your Library Advocacy Day Shortcuts
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/Social_Media_Button_10_(1).png "Legislative Office Visits")
/Social_Media_Button_11_(1).png "FAQ")
/Social_Media_Button_12_(1).png "Lead Up Events")
/Social_Media_Button_13_(1).png "LAD21 Schedule")
/Social_Media_Button_14_(1).png "Advocacy Tools")
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Why Participate in Library Advocacy Day?
Your voice during #LAD22 will benefit...
- ALL NY libraries and citizens.
- ALL libraries and systems which receive direct state aid.
- Many libraries and systems receive indirect state aid in the form of cooperative services and shared programs from their library system.
- Legislators who need to understand how libraries can help them.
How Can I Participate in Library Advocacy Day?
We need your voice during #LAD22, but how can you get your voice out there? There are several ways to tell your story to key leaders in the Legislature on why libraries are important to our communities. Learn more below about how YOU can participate!
Are you a librarian/library worker/trustee/friend?
- Attend a Virtual Legislative Office Visit with your fellow #LibraryAdvocates. See our "Virtual Legislative Office Visits" section below to see if there is a meeting scheduled with your elected official for you to attend.
- Be a Social Media Advocate. Learn more about how to get involved in social media advocacy in our "Leverage Your Network - Be A Social Media Advocate" Section.
- Send a Letter/Email to your Elected Officials. Not social media savvy? No worries. We have both letter and email templates for you to customize and send to your elected officials.
- Submit a Video for NYLA's "I Am A #LibraryAdvocate" Campaign. We are asking our #LibraryAdvocates to share with us via video why #nylibraries are important to you! Whether you are a seasoned library advocate, or this is your first Library Advocacy Day - we want to hear from you. Please aim for these videos to be at most 60 seconds and note that these videos will be shared via NYLA's social media channels and during our virtual Library Advocacy Day Rally. Please use the hashtags #LAD22 or #LibraryAdvocate to submit these videos via social media!
Are you a student?
- Be a Social Media Advocate. Learn more about how to get involved in social media advocacy in our "Leverage Your Network - Be A Social Media Advocate" Section.
- Share Your Story. We know you love your library and that's why we want YOU to share your story. Tell us why your library is important to you below using our "Tell Your Story" tool. We might use your story on our social media channels! Click HERE to tell your story.
Are you a library patron?
- Be a Social Media Advocate. Learn more about how to get involved in social media advocacy in our "Leverage Your Network - Be A Social Media Advocate" Section.
- Share Your Story. We know you love your library and that's why we want YOU to share your story. Tell us why your library is important to you below using our "Tell Your Story" tool. We might use your story on our social media channels! Click HERE to tell your story.
- Advocate for Increased Funding & Policy Initiatives that would benefit the library community. Click HERE.
- Submit a Video for NYLA's "I Am A #LibraryAdvocate" Campaign. We are asking our #LibraryAdvocates to share with us via video why #nylibraries are important to you! Whether you are a seasoned library advocate, or this is your first Library Advocacy Day - we want to hear from you. Please aim for these videos to be at most 60 seconds and note that these videos will be shared via NYLA's social media channels and during our virtual Library Advocacy Day Rally. Please use the hashtags #LAD22 or #LibraryAdvocate to submit these videos via social media!
Are you an elected official and/or stakeholder?
- Learn Our 2022 Legislative and Budget Priorities. Learn more about what is important to the library community this year here.
- Share Your Story. Tell us all about how #nylibraries have been important to your communities on social media! Use the hashtags #LAD22, #LibraryAdvocate, and #nylibraries to tell your story. NYLA will most likely retweet/reshare your post throughout the day!
Library Advocacy Day 2022 - FAQ
I’ve always come to Albany on the bus for Library Advocacy Day, what am I am supposed to do this year?
Check out all the options below! You can participate on social media, join a virtul meeting whether you're speaking or listening in, or even share a story!
I’m not on Twitter or Facebook, what can I do to support libraries?
You can send a letter to your representatives or even give them a call! Participate using the methods (and mediums) you feel most comfortable with!
As a library trustee, I embrace my responsibility for speaking up for library funding, is there anything special I can do?
Of course. As a library trustee you play a special role in our community. Share details about your role through the story feature below or check out the other options including virtual meetings.
How do I let NYLA (and by extension library advocates) know when are meetings have been scheduled?
Scroll down just a bit further to our AirTable. If you scheduled a meeting with a Senator or Assemblymember, you can add the information including time, there.
As we prepare for our meetings, along with the identified ‘speakers’, where can I find talking points and materials to share?
LAD22 Packet
Who should I be promoting virtual Library Advocacy Day to for 2022?
Everyone!
How should we be reporting out on the meetings after they happen?
Advocacy Report
Legislative Virtual Office Visits
Meetings with individual legislators (or their office) are coordinated by library systems or regional coordinators. NYLA will have a listing of all the legislative office visits that we have been made aware of. Please be sure to review the NYLA Legislative Priorities prior to your meetings.
Have your scheduled your meeting already? Let us know here.
Full List of Scheduled Legislative Virtual Office Visits
**Please note this will be auto-populated as meetings are scheduled. If you are interested in attending any of these scheduled meetings, please contact the scheduler via email to receive Zoom credentials.
Library Advocacy Day Materials
Visit the Legislative Agenda subpage for the most up-to-date information regarding NYLA's funding and policy initiatives as well as supplemental materials.
If you have any questions about Library Advocacy Day, reach out to our Director of Government Relations & Advocacy, Briana, via email at advocate@nyla.org.
2022 Library Advocacy Day Lead-Up Events
2022 Library Advocacy Day - Member Prep Session
Date: Wednesday, February 16th at 3PM
2022 Library Advocacy Day - Social Media Training for Members
Date: Friday, February 25th at 3PM
LAD22 Social Media Member Training Slide Deck
2022 NY4BL Annual Fundraising Gala
Date: Tuesday, March 1st at 7PM
TICKET SALES CLOSED
The NY4BL Annual Fundraising Gala will take the form of a virtual Distillery Tour & Tasting with Black Button Distilling on Tuesday, March 1st, at 7:00pm - the night before NYLA's virtual Library Advocacy Day.
Three tiers of tickets are available, and two of them include ready-to-drink cocktails shipped directly to you. All three tiers include a virtual tour of the distillery, an overview of the brand and spirits with Black Button Distillery, and raffle tickets for a chance to win Black Button spirits and swag during the event.
Leverage Your Network – Be A Social Media Advocate
Over the past two years, advocacy has changed. While it may look a little different what remains the same is needing YOU to speak out and take action. Your voice has power – whether in person or online.
How Can I Be A Virtual Library Advocate?
NYLA has created a toolkit to help you be the best social media advocate you can be. See below all the tools you need to elevate your voice virtually.
Keep Your Assemblymember or State Senator’s Twitter Handle Handy
Twitter is one of the most important social media networks in the advocacy world. Most elected officials will utilize Twitter to keep their constituents informed in real-time. In fact, most state elected officials often will manage their accounts themselves. By following and engaging with your elected officials on Twitter, you will have one of the most direct ways to have your voice heard at your fingertips.
Find your Assemblymember and State Senator’s Twitter using our directory.
Don't know who your state representatives are? Find out who your Assemblymember or State Senator is!
Learn How to Leverage Your Network of Influence
You have a Twitter and know your elected officials Twitter handles. But, how do you create a network of influence? Your Twitter has power and we have pulled together a one-pager to help you understand how to leverage your network of influence.
Craft the Perfect Message
Twitter thrives on being a social media platform that values short, concise, and to the point communication. So, how do you get your message across that is authentic to you but also hits on what’s most important?
We have pulled together sample tweets and tweet threads for our social media advocates to utilize during Library Advocacy Day. Each of these sample tweets is customizable to make it your own but touch on all of the important pieces of legislation we are advocating for this session.
Click here to see our sample tweet directory.
Not sure what a “tweet thread” is? Or how to post an effective tweet? Click here for our Tweeting Tips & Tricks Cheat Sheet.
Want a simple way to reach your officials? Submit the LAD22 Take Action campaign letter.
Let Us Know You’re A #LibraryAdvocate!
You’ve followed and tweeted your elected officials – what’s next?
Share with your network why being a #LibraryAdvocate is important to YOU! Flex your advocate muscles and tell your story.
Make sure to use the hashtags #LibraryAdvocate and #LAD22 on Library Advocacy Day so we can share your stories!
Full #LAD22 Social Media Advocate Materials Directory
Tweeting Tips & Tricks Cheat Sheet
Social Media Frames
I Am A #LibraryAdvocate Social Media Frame
I Am A #LibraryChampion Social Media Frame
I Advocate For Libraries Because... Social Media Frame
Facebook & Twitter Social Media Frames - These have been discontinued on these social media platforms as of January 2022 - we apologize for not being able to provide custom profile picture frames this year!
That’s all you need to be a social media advocate warrior! Thank you for being a #LibraryAdvocate!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Communications & Marketing Manager, Christina at marketing@nyla.org.