Advocacy Tools

TLA has thousands of members from school, public, academic, and special libraries, as well as countless lay supporters, parents, educators, and business partners who promote library issues. Additionally, all types of libraries enjoy enormous local support from parent groups, the local community, student organizations, and countless other stakeholders who join in statewide efforts to strengthen libraries. With libraries – school, academic, public, or special – located in almost every political jurisdiction in the state, the grassroots support for libraries is broad and deep.

Building relationships with your local, state and national elected officials is essential to advocacy. How to begin?

• Find out who represents you in the Texas Legislature
• Learn more about them. Visit their website. What committees do they serve on? What is their profession? How do their interests and experiences intersect with your library’s services?
• Connect with the legislative office. Sign up to receive their newsletters, follow them on social media.
• Attend town hall meetings and other local events to show that libraries are important stakeholders in communities, and so that they can put a face with the name on your communications.
• Invite them (and their staff) to visit your library for a tour, or to participate in an event or program.
• Become familiar with TLA’s legislative priorities

Resources

American Library Association Advocacy Site

ALA Past-President Julie Todaro: On the Value of Libraries
This resource covers everything on the value of libraries from A to Z. With resources for all types of libraries, this online guide covers advocacy, management and leadership.

Texas Public Libraries ROI Study
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s study shows that for every $1 spent in Texas on public libraries, the return on investment is an outstanding $4.64.

Promoting Our Values, Proving Our Worth Toolkit: A Realistic, Concrete Approach
By Julie Todaro, past chair, TLA PR & Marketing Committee

OCLC Reports and Publications on Libraries

Pew Internet & American Library Project
Studies on libraries, reading, and technology use from the Pew Research Center.

Video: Libraries in Action  
Overview of library activities developed by Beth Krippel at Harris County Public Library

Video: Middle School Kids Love Reading and Libraries
A TLA Branding Iron Award honoree, this video shows how the school community rallies around the school library.