The next Missouri Library Legislative Day will be February 2, 2010.
Save the Date flyer
Pre-Registration Form Info Sheet
Library Legislative Day is one of the most important events of the year. Scheduled during February, the event is timed so that we can have the maximum possible impact upon our legislators' votes for funding. It is vitally important to libraries everywhere in Missouri that we have excellent turnout at this event.
This website was created in order to help you prepare. Please select from the following options.
|
Practical matters |
Lobbying/Advocacy |
How
to get there
The morning orientation session will be held in the first floor auditorium of the Missouri State Information Center. The Center is located at 600 W. Main Street, just a few blocks from the Capitol building. Click on the aerial photo at right or get detailed driving directions from Yahoo. Free visitor parking is available in the lot in front of the building, and also across the street in the Truman office building lot.
What to bring
Some things you might want to bring:
-
Schedule of the appointments you have made with legislators
-
Handouts, literature, or brochures about your library to give to your legislators
-
Your own list of "talking points" about matters pertinent to your library
-
Paper pad for taking notes during the morning orientation session.
-
Map of offices within the Missouri capitol building (you can pick one up at the Capitol Information Desk)
-
An illustrated roster of the Missouri General Assembly. This is especially useful for identifying legislators at public hearings. The roster is available on the web for printing out, but you might find it in paper format in your library.
Optional, personal items you might want to have with you:
-
Umbrella in case of rain (it is a 3-block walk from the MO State Information Center to the Capitol building.) It is not possible to park very close to the Capitol.
-
Comfortable shoes for the daytime events. The Capitol building is very large and you will probably do a lot of walking between legislator offices and hearing rooms.
-
Portable snacks. There is a small cafeteria in the basement of the Capitol, but it might be a long walk from wherever you happen to be when you have only a few minutes to eat.
-
Bring a camera if you would like to have a picture with your legislator for your library newsletter.
Where to stay overnight and eat
MLA will not be reserving a block of hotel rooms for this event. If you need overnight accommodations, we suggest you use the lodging guide provided on the Jefferson City Convention & Visitors' Bureau website.
It is not essential you find a hotel within walking distance. Parking in the lots and side streets around the Missouri State Information Center is free and ample.
You have several options for lunch if you are on foot. There is a small cafeteria in the Capitol basement which offers some hot food options such as hamburgers and fish sandwiches, a small salad bar, soft drinks and packaged snacks. If you have time and prefer more options, it is just a short walk to several downtown eateries. See a full list of restaurants on the Jefferson City Convention & Visitors' Bureau website.
Planning the Day / What to Expect
-
Library Legislative Day usually starts with coffee and donuts in the auditorium of the Missouri State Information Center, 600 W. Main Street. There will be time to talk or read as librarians arrive from around the state. There will be many handouts. You might feel most prepared if you allow some time to read through the handouts before the speakers take the podium and discuss them.
-
The morning orientation lineup of speakers might include the Secretary of State, the MLA president, the recipient of the Bud Barnes Outstanding Legislator award, the State Librarian, MLA's Legislative Advocate (lobbyist) and maybe a few others. These individuals provide legislative updates and mention important bills and their status.
-
After the morning orientation, participants either proceed to pre-arranged appointments or seek out lunch on their own.
-
Afternoon time is up to the individual. It is generally divided between meetings with legislators and listening in on hearings. There will probably be some time between noon and 6:00 that you have no appointments and no important hearings to attend. Consider doing something for enjoyment within walking distance. With some advance planning, you could get in on a tour of the Governor's Mansion. Jefferson's Landing is also nearby and has historical interest.
-
The evening buffet begins at 6:00pm at the Jefferson City Country Club. Click for a map and directions. MLA directly invites all legislators to attend this event. Sometimes the legislators come and are disappointed to find that no librarians from their districts are present. Conversely some librarians attend and are disappointed to find that their own legislators had last-minute conflicts. There is no way for us to know in advance which legislators will come because their unusual schedules make it impossible for us to ask for RSVPs. Therefore we hope that librarians whose own legislators are not there will be willing to meet and chat with legislators from other districts.
Your Planning Timetable
-
As soon as you register for Library Legislative Day, check with colleagues in your area to find out who else is planning to go. Find out if the other librarians have already invited your legislators to the buffet dinner. Basically this is your chance to coordinate. Compare notes, consider sharing rides, etc.
-
Early-mid January: Make appointments to visit with legislators sometime during the afternoon of Library Legislative Day. In addition to scheduling office visits, invite the legislators to the MLA dinner buffet at the Jefferson City Country Club. Though MLA sends invitations to every legislator, the personal invitation is also appropriate. You could offer to pay for the legislator's dinner.
-
Mid-January: Collect facts and figures about your library that support your need for continued funding. Update and solidify your library's stance on legislation such as copyright, privacy, censorship, information licensing, etc. Work together with your library director to create a list of talking points for your local institution.
-
Late January: Check this website again for late-breaking information on the status of appropriations bills, legislative updates, etc.
-
Early February: Attend Library Legislative Day. During the orientation you will be told about the status of important bills. When speaking about bills to legislators, it will be important to give bill numbers.
-
Mid February: Send thank-you notes to the legislators who met with you on Library Legislative Day.
-
Check our expanded Legislative Calendar for ideas on year-round library advocacy.
Tips for talking with your legislators
There has been much written on this subject. The American Library Association has an abundance of printed and online material to help you get acquainted and accomplished at this sort of work. We've taken some of the best links we could find on the web and put them under the "Links" section in our navigation bar. If you have specific questions, you can write to us, the MLA Legislative Committee.
Note to Academics and Library Trustees
We now have a special page for academic librarians.
Library trustees will find a lot of good information on ALA's ATLA (Association for Library Trustees and Advocates) advocacy page.