We've learned a ton over the past 3 years so in 2023, NYLA members and library advocates across the state will have the ability to participate in two ways: in-person and virtually!
Why Participate in Library Advocacy Day?
Your voice during #LAD23 will benefit...
- Every New York library and citizen.
- Each library and system which receive direct state aid.
- The libraries and systems which 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 #LAD23, 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...
Librarian | Library Staff | Trustee | Friend
- Attend an In-person OR Virtual Legislative Office Visit with your fellow #LibraryAdvocates. See our "Meetings" 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" 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. These videos will be shared via NYLA's social media channels.
Student
- Be a Social Media Advocate. Learn more about how to get involved in social media advocacy in our "Leverage Your Network" 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.
Library Patron
- Be a Social Media Advocate. Learn more about how to get involved in social media advocacy in our "Leverage Your Network" 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.
- Advocate for Increased Funding & Policy Initiatives that would benefit the library community.
- 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. These videos will be shared via NYLA's social media channels.
Elected Official | Community Stakeholder
- Learn Our 2023 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 #LAD23, #LibraryAdvocate, and #nylibraries to tell your story. NYLA will retweet/reshare your post throughout the day!
Legislative Meetings (In-Person & Virtual)
Meetings with individual legislators (or their office staff) are coordinated by library systems or regional coordinators. NYLA will have a listing of all the legislative office visits, their location (in-person or virtual), that have been submitted via the below AirTable.
Have your scheduled your meeting already? Let us know here.
**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.
Advocacy Materials
If you have any questions about Library Advocacy Day, reach out to our Director of Government Relations & Advocacy at advocate@nyla.org.
Accommodations
The Albany Hilton in Downtown Albany is our host hotel. Pre-Advocacy events & meetings will take place in the lower level of the hotel as well as the New Yorkers for Better Libraries reception. Interested in staying overnight?
To reserve your discounted room, click here or call 1(800)Hilton and provde code "1NYLA" to the customer service representative.
Book soon! We have a limited number of rooms available and our block closes on Feburary 7.
Albany Hilton | 40 Lodge Street | Albany, NY 12207
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2023 Advocacy Day Lead-Up Events
2023 Library Advocacy Day - Virtual Member Prep Session
Date: Friday, February 17th at 3PM
View the LAD23 Virtual Member Prep Session Slides Here
2023 Library Advocacy Day - Digital Advocacy 101 Prep Session
Date: Tuesday, February 21st at 3PM
View the LAD23 Digital Advocacy 101 Prep Session Slides Here
Regent Joseph E. Bowman, Jr. Research Library Tour
Date: Monday, February 27, 2023, 3:30-4:30pm
Location: New York State Cultural Education Center (Home of the NYS Museum, Library, and Archives) located at 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230
The New York State Library invites NYLA Pre-Advocacy Day attendees to join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of our Regent Joseph E. Bowman, Jr. Research Library. Get a back of the house look at our 20 million items, meet State Library staff, and learn more about how the State Library supports libraries and researchers across the state. The tour will conclude with a special exhibit of fascinating items from our Manuscripts and Special Collections relating to New York’s history.
Meet in the Cultural Education Center at 3:30pm.
Register Here (Deadline Friday, February 24th)
2023 Library Advocacy Day - In-Person Member Prep Session
Date: Monday, February 27 at 10AM
Albany Hilton | Governor B
2023 NY4BL Annual Reception & Dinner
Date: Monday, February 27
6:00pm - Cocktail Hour: Albany Hilton | West Gallery
7:00 - 9:00pm - Dinner: Albany Hilton | Governor A
Buy your tickets here: https://NY4BLGala2023.givesmart.com
Leverage Your Network
Your voice has power – whether in person or online. Using the tips & tricks below - you can leverage your network to support library advocacy.
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 are.
Learn How to Leverage Your Network of Influence
You now have a Twitter account and know your elected officials handles. Now what? 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.
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!
Make sure to use the hashtags #LibraryAdvocate and #LAD23 leading up to & on Library Advocacy Day so we can share your stories!
FAQs
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 up just a bit 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?
Coming soon.
Who should I be promoting Library Advocacy Day 2023 to?
Everyone.
How should we be reporting out on the meetings after they happen?
Advocacy Report