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Libraries and Elections: How You Can Get Involved and Make a Difference

Libraries and Elections: How You Can Get Involved and Make a Difference. A Webinar from the ALA Washington Office. Have no fear! We’ll explain muting, Q&A and other details when we start. Topics. About the Webinar Who’s Speaking? Welcome from ALA A word of caution Where to get started

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Libraries and Elections: How You Can Get Involved and Make a Difference

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  1. Libraries and Elections: How You Can Get Involved and Make a Difference A Webinar from the ALA Washington Office Have no fear! We’ll explain muting, Q&A and other details when we start.

  2. Topics About the Webinar Who’s Speaking? Welcome from ALA A word of caution Where to get started 10 specific techniques for library advocates

  3. About the Webinar What’s happening? Muting Q&A Recording and Follow-Up Materials

  4. Who’s Speaking?

  5. Welcome from ALA Kristin Murphy, Government Relations Specialist, ALA

  6. Where are we Starting From? Let’s go to the polls!

  7. Why Get Involved in the Elections? • Raises the profile of library issues, both during the campaign and long after. • Offers a new and often invigorating way for library supporters to get involved. • Enhances your access and reach in the legislature. • Civic mindedness: it’s an important part of democracy and it’s a fun thing to do!

  8. 10 Specific Techniques Let’s get started…

  9. Make Sure You Know the Rules • One terrific Resource: Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest • Main rule: Advocacy and even Lobbying is OK. “Electioneering” (i.e., picking a preferred candidate) is not

  10. Learn About the Candidates and Issues • Congress.org: www.congress.org • Open Secrets: www.opensecrets.org • Vote Smart: www.vote-smart.org

  11. Voter Drives • Why: Getting like minded people out to vote will only help your cause. • Your role: Provide resources like: • Flyers (print and deliver through local Kinko’s) • Business cards • Online and voice mail greetings • Your volunteers / supporters role: Distribute far and wide • The message? Go to http://www.congress.org/election/register_vote

  12. Create a Candidate Survey • Why? • Gets volunteers / supporters / trustees involved • Requires candidates to focus on library issues • How? • Zoomerang • Survey Monkey • What can you do with the information? • Connect advocates with candidates • Post responses online • Utilize in future lobbying / advocacy efforts

  13. Facility Rental • Many elected officials may be interested in utilizing a library’s outstanding facilities. Here’s the scoop: “ [Y]ou may rent your facilities, in whole or part, to a political campaign for election activities. The principles here are hands off (library officials should stay away from the event) and evenhandedness (rent on the same terms to everybody, political or not).”

  14. Web 2.0 Techniques • Set up a “Blog Day” for a few days before the election • Library Supporters can encourage “YouTube” videos from townhall meetings and campaign events (BOTH sides) • Library Supporters can set up a Facebook or MySpace page around your organization’s involvement in the campaign (BOTH sides) • Photosharing through Flickr or other similar sites

  15. GOTV: Get Out the Vote • What is it? • Old Fashioned • Phone lists from board of elections • Doorbelling • Sign waving, etc. • New Fashioned • E-mail / voice mail taglines • Texting • Twitter!

  16. Online Petitions / Campaign Sites • Why do a petition? • Engages advocates • May encourage additional actions • How? • www.citizenspeak.org

  17. Each One Reach One • Develop an “each one reach one” campaign • Ask every library supporter to bring at least one other person to the polls • Offer prizes / incentives for those that bring the most to the polls (like a “pledge” drive)

  18. Working the Polling Sites • Every jurisdiction needs volunteers to work the polls • Benefits to you: Active and engaged advocates • Benefits to them: Enhanced understanding of the process (and perhaps more sympathy in the long run!)

  19. What Other Resources Are Available? Use ALA’s Legislative Action Center to write to legislators Work with your ALA government relations team – they are here to help.

  20. Contact Information • Kristin Murphy, ALA Washington Office • kmurphy@alawash.org • Washington Office Line: • (202) 628-8410 • (800) 941-8478 (for the cash strapped among us) • www.ala.org • Stephanie Vance, the Advocacy Guru • vance@advocacyguru.com • (202) 349-1036 • www.advocacyguru.com Want sounds? Follow prompts for streaming audio or call in!

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