Legislative Day

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Legislative Day • February 16, 2011

In these hard economic times, libraries of all types are needed more than ever. And, our library customers, students, and communities need us to speak up for the incredible role of libraries supporting education, workforce development, and competitive colleges and universities.

TLA’s Legislative Day is a day of advocacy held once every two years in Austin. Legislative Day is a time for library supporters to gather in Austin and “talk up” libraries with visits to elected officials at the Capitol.  Legislative Day is held during each state legislative session and includes training and special briefings the evening before the full day of visits.

REGISTER HERE!

Legislative Day Q&A

Who can participate?
You don’t need to be a member of TLA, and you don’t have to be a librarian. In fact, we love having lay supporters – parents, teachers, and concerned citizens – join us in making the case that the state’s libraries need increased state support.

When do I need to be there?
Training for Legislative Day begins on the evening of February 15, and Legislative Day (a day of visits to legislative offices at the Capitol in Austin) is February 16. Anyone is welcome to attend TLA’s Legislative Day.

How does Legislative Day work?

  • First, you’ll need to register. There is no fee to participate, but we need to know who you are and what legislative district you live in.
  • TLA will assign you to a delegation, so you will be making visits on Legislative Day with others from your part of the state.
  • TLA has 31 delegations which are based on the 31 state senate districts.   We align (roughly) house of representative districts into the larger senate districts is which they primarily “reside geographically.”  
  • Each of the 31 delegations is led by a Delegate Leader, who is assigned this task by the TLA Legislative Committee Chair. The Delegate Leader is responsible for setting appointments with all of the representatives and senator assigned to that delegation. The Delegate Leader also acts as the facilitator for all legislative meetings.
  • The Delegate Leader will work with all members of his or her delegation the night before the visits (during the training session noted above) to discuss which delegates will discuss certain issues and talking points.
  • All delegates will participate in the visits and in making the case to elected officials and their staff about library needs.
  • All delegates will receive a training packet of materials, issue briefs, and talking points. Working in concert with other members of your delegation and your Delegate Leader, you will have the opportunity to be a voice for Texas libraries.

Where do I stay?
TLA’s Legislative Day 2011 will kick off with training at the Hyatt Regency on Lady Bird Lake in Austin. The Association negotiates for special rates for TLA Legislative Day delegates. More information on rates will be posted in the late fall of 2010.

How do I get around?
City of Austin buses run from Congress Street (just across from the Hyatt) to the Capitol. Busing schedules are available at from Capitol Metro.  You can also drive to the Capitol and park in the visitors’ garage just across from the State Library on San Jacinto. The first two hours of parking are free.

What issues will we talk about?
For detailed issue briefs, go to TLA Platform.

This sounds great, but I don’t know anything about advocating and making visits with elected officials. Where can I learn more?
See TLA’s Advocacy How – To section.

What if I want to support libraries but can’t come to Austin on that particular day?
You can participate in Virtual Library Legislative Day!

Participating Virtually: Take the time to call your state senator and representative. Tell them about the incredible services your library provides.

Make a commitment to get people writing and communicating about critical statewide issues. Organize a letter-writing campaign. Get your friends groups, students, faculty, and supporters to contact them as well. It is particularly important to have administrators, city or county officials, and parents contact elected officials on behalf of libraries and library users.

Ask a couple of your supporters to send letters-to-the editor about a week before Legislative Day on the importance of libraries. TLA will be sending the media information about TLA’s legislative platform and the public opinion survey.

If you haven’t already checked out the incredible survey results, go to: http://www.txla.org/html/pr/survey.html.

Here are just a couple of the numbers:

  • Texas voters agree public libraries are a good value for the tax dollar (94%, including 70% who strongly agree) and deserve more funding (87%, including 62% who strongly agree).
  • Strong majorities support increasing public funding for both public (81%) and school (82%) libraries. In fact, at least seven in ten voters across every demographic, geographic and political segment support increased funding for both public and school libraries.
  • Nearly all Texans (99% including 84% who strongly agree) believe school libraries are an essential part of the education experience and more than nine in 10 agree (94%) that school librarians are critical to student achievement.

For more information, email gloriam@txla.org.

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Created on Mar 21, 2010 | Last updated June 21, 2010