This update is from Mark Ranum, MLA Legislative Chair
March 6 is your day to contact your HOUSE and SENATE members and ADVOCATE FOR LIBRARIES!!!
If you can’t make Legislative Day in person, you can still make a difference by contacting your Representatives and Senators by telephone or email and letting them know that library funding from the state is very important!
You can review the platform and documents on specific issues of interest at http://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/committees/legislative-committee#documents
The bill numbers for each issue will be available on the MLA website under the legislative committee documents link listed above, so you can refer to specific bill numbers in the House and Senate when you contact legislators. Some of the issues will not have specific bill numbers since they are part of the Governor’s proposed budget.
When you call or email, it’s best to advocate for a specific issue or bill, and particularly if that issue or bill is under consideration in one of the committees where your legislator is a member.
Find your legislators at http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/ When your Senator and Representative names are displayed, you can click on their names to find out their committee assignments.
You can pass this email along to all your library board members, friends, and advocates, and library patrons!! Encourage them to contact their legislators!
Even a call or email expressing general library support on March 6 would be terrific and very helpful in our advocacy efforts. The more positive energy and impact we have that day, the more positive our conversations about libraries continue at the Capitol.
Mark Ranum, Director Plum Creek Library System
Box 697, 290 S. Lake Street
Worthington, MN 56187
507.376.5803 ext. 1 (office)
612.701.9989 (cell)
mranum@plumcreeklibrary.net
In collaboration with College Board and National Writing Project, PEW Research published a study this February pertaining to the impact of technology at home and in the classroom. Data was collected both online and through in-person focus groups with teachers (middle and high school) and students (grades 9-12).
