Category Archives: Advocacy

Advocacy, Communication

A Year in Library Memes (And Why We Need More)

Memes. We all look at them, and on hard days in library land, it’s nice to have some good ones we can giggle over, or make us sigh in sympathy.

Check out this article, reviewing some of the library memes that came up each month of 2017. It may have been a dumpster fire of a year for a lot of people – but memes could be a unifying force for library people everywhere!

By

“Looking back, 2017 was a turbulent year in libraryland. Let’s take a peek at the library memes that emerged.

First: What is a Meme?

The term “meme” rose to prominence in the 1990s, accompanying the rise of the internet and personal computer. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “meme” is a noun that means an idea, behavior, style or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.

It can also mean an amusing or interesting item such as a captioned picture or video that is spread widely on the internet. “Memes are often harmless images with funny text over it,” says to Michael Levenson, a Boston Globe reporter.

Richard Dawkins, a British scientist, first used the term “meme” in 1976 book The Selfish Gene to mean “a unit of cultural transmission”. When he created the word, he sought a monosyllable that sounded a bit like “gene”. “Mim” was a root meaning mime or mimic, and “-eme” a distinctive unit of language or structure.

January: “Hey, this is library” #thisislibrary

This is Library! Meme

Is the library an appropriate place for loud protest?

You are missing out if you haven’t followed the meme and video trail for the guy who interrupted an anti-Trump protest that took place in a library at the University of Washington in January.

With the library’s reputation for being a place of quiet study and contemplation, and its role in promoting civic discourse and freedom of speech… there’s no easy answer. This student staged a protest of his own, and the internet community responded.

Have you been in a library when a protest occurred in the space? How did people react? Does anyone enforce the expectation of quietness? Or is the “sshhsshh”ing librarian gone forever?

Regardless, you should know – the year of memes kicked off in a library.

February: “Libraries are for everyone” @Hafuboti #librariesR4Every1 #librariesresist

Libraries Are For Everyone

Blogger Harfuboti, in a February 2, 2017 post called “LIBRARIES ARE FOR EVERYONE,” gained traction with a grassroots messaging campaign for libraries. The content exploded in library-related social media circles.

The images – which we’re calling memes due to the design style of the content and the enthusiastic way it spread in the culture – were intended for wide distribution. The creator explicitly stated a Creative Commons Attribute/Share Alike license for the work, and encouraged people to download, share, modify and have fun with the work. It was quickly reprinted for buttons, T-shirts, and coloring pages. The memes were made available in seventy-eight different languages.

This content spread along with tags such as #librariesresist which rose to popularity after the January 20th inauguration of President Donald Trump. The controversial executive order – Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States – or the “travel ban” had taken center stage in mainstream American media at the end of January.

The American Library Association responded on January 30, 2017 with a statement saying that the ALA opposes new administration policies that contradict core values of professional librarians. The messaging of Harfuboti’s images enforced the position of the library professional community toward inclusivity, and Twitter indicates that circulation of the meme picked up speed throughout February and March.

March: Beauty and the Beast Hits Theaters (March 17, 2017) #beautyandthebeast #library

beauty-and-the-beast-library-meme

With the March 17, 2017 release date for the new adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, memes circulated widely in library-loving communities. Anyone who admired the library in the original Disney animated film was left to wonder: how would the library be represented in the live action film?

The film starred Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the beast. The movie grossed $1.264 billion in the box office. As of December 2017, that makes it part of the top ten highest grossing films of all time according to Box Office Mojo.

Meanwhile in Saskatchewan … on Wednesday March 22, budget cuts were announced including a $4.8 million overall cut to rural and urban library systems. #SaveSKLibraries began the next day with a Facebook group that attracted 500 members in the first 8 hours, according to Headtale, a librarian blogger involved with the advocacy work. Which leads us to …”

Okay – check out the entire article here to get all 12 months!

Advocacy

Save the Dates! Library Legislative Day

Pflheart-logoI love to talk about libraries!

Libraries stand alone in the service we provide. We give books to people. We give them research articles. We give them access to computers and other technology. We give them our expertise in working with information. We give them programs. We give them training. We get them ready for college. We teach them how to do research. We train them to know the real meaning of “fake news.”

The value of libraries can be calculated qualitatively: the quality of the materials and services we provide is phenomenal. The “how does this feel?” test will generally blow the positive end off the charts: libraries “feel” great, most people like us, and even just hearing about the assorted stuff we do is enough to impress most people.

But our quantitative value is also pretty darn impressive! There have been a bunch of studies calculating the ROI (Return On Investment) of libraries. These are most frequently done on public libraries, but my moderately-expert opinion on this is that the general results would likely carry over to all types of libraries. These public library studies show that for every $1 invested in public libraries, value returned varies from a “mere” $2.97 in Suffolk County, New York, to $10.18 in Florida public libraries.

CMLE is working to develop a broad-spectrum advocacy program, to help our libraries tell their story,  and to let their funders know about the amazing value. I love to brag about the great things going on in our libraries – and it’s not just Central Minnesota, libraries all over the place are just so impressive!

And of course, I am not alone in wanting to talk about libraries!

The Minnesota Library Association (MLA) organizes Library Legislative Day each year. This year, it is Tuesday, March 6.

Want more info about this? Check out this MLA/ITEM Legislative Legwork Commitee site – new this year with a TON of great info!! If you have ever wanted to know even the smallest detail of what it’s like to go to Legislative Day (spoiler: it’s fun!), it is here!

We have had a great turnout from public libraries, and their board members, attending and advocating with our legislators for libraries across the state. Thanks, everyone who helps libraries!!!

This year, I want to see if additional other library people can come and talk about your libraries.

If there is interest across CMLE, we can organize a group visit for members.  I would make appointments with our legislators, and we would all go as a group. Generally, these are pretty quick – maybe 15 minutes, so there is not a lot of time to get our message out. But it might be fun, and it might be helpful to legislators to see all these different library people coming to advocate for library support and funding.

Let us know if you might be interested in coming to St. Paul on Mar. 6 to talk about libraries! And of course, we also suggest you mail postcards to legislators and stakeholders, or send quick emails to tell them how valuable their support is and the great things your library is doing with that support. Don’t hesitate to give any legislator a quick phone call, and just say thanks for the support and tell them about a service you provide or  a patron you helped.

If we set it up, would you attend Library Legislative Day on March 6 in St Paul?

 

Here is the info from the MLA Legislative Committee:

Plan to attend Library Legislative Day to tell your legislators about the importance of libraries! This is a great year to attend if you have always wanted to go, but haven’t made the leap! More info to follow! But, in the meantime, mark your calendars:
March 5, 2018
Library Legislative Day Briefing
Roseville Library
4:30-6:00pm
Registration opens in January.
  • 5-6pm-Briefing
  • 6pm Optional dinner groups. Watch for more info & registration.
March 6, 2018
Library Legislative Day
L’Etoile du Nord (Room B-15, State Capitol)
8:30-4pm
Registration opens in January.
  • Detailed agenda available soon
  • Legislative Day Briefing (same as March 5)
  • Schedule your legislative visits
  • Library Info Fair (10-3pm)

And, if you want to plan far ahead:

August 8, 2018
Annual Legislative Forum
Brookdale Library
9:30-4:00pm
Registration opens in June 2018.
Advocacy

Applications sought for 2018 Coretta Scott King Book Donation Grants

From the American Library Association:

Contact:

Jody Gray Director; Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services; jgray@ala.org

CHICAGO — Underfunded libraries, schools and non-traditional organizations that provide educational services to children are invited to apply to receive one of three Coretta Scott King Book Donation Grants. Every year, in the process of choosing the Coretta Scott King Book Award winners and honor books, the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) of the American Library Association receives multiple copies of approximately 60-100 titles by African American authors and illustrators

Awarded by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee, the grant program provides books submitted for consideration for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards to libraries and other organizations to expand their collections.

Each year, three organizations that demonstrate need and potential benefit from receiving the collection are selected. All three libraries will receive copies of titles submitted for consideration for the 2018 awards, including a full set of the 2018 winning titles.

Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2018 and winners will be announced by late March. For more information, and to apply, please visit http://www.ala.org/rt/emiert/cskbookawards/bookgrant.

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are presented annually by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee of the ALA’s Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) to encourage the artistic expression of the African-American experience via literature and the graphic arts.

Advocacy

Contest: Minnesota Libraries Transform Because . . .

Transformation at Future Perfect

Check out this cool contest from MLA!!

“Because 5 out of 5 Doctors Agree Reading Aloud to Children Supports Brain Development
Because Today’s Gamer Could Be Tomorrow’s Inventor
Because 5 Million Students Can’t Access Broadband at Home


Have you seen statements like this up at your local library or on social media? They’re part of the American Libraries Association Libraries Transform campaign, and they’re designed to increase awareness of the value, impact, and services provided by libraries and library staff.

As we prepare to advocate for Minnesota libraries in the coming year, we’re proposing a Minnesota spin on the Libraries Transform initiative and would like to create several uniquely Minnesota “Because” statements. We’re seeking submissions from library supporters, and these statements can be about the services and value you see in any type of library (public, academic, school, government, and others). Your submissions will be collected and used for virtual library legislative week in Minnesota, March 5-9th, 2018. One lucky winner will receive a large print of your Minnesota Libraries Transform Because statement.

How to Submit

  • Deadline to submit is Friday, February 2nd, 2018
  • On Twitter, use the hashtag #MnLibrariesTransform
    • Format example: Because audiobooks turn snowy commutes into adventures #mnlibrariesstransform
  • Submit online: https://goo.gl/forms/0mpPTQ5XtyyzbRYQ2

Need ideas? Take a look at the statements that ALA has created:
http://www.ilovelibraries.org/librariestransform

More Information

The contest is sponsored by the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) Legislative Working Group and the Information and Technology Educators of Minnesota (ITEM). More information about library legislative activities in 2018 can be found on the MLA website: https://mnlibraryassociation.site-ym.com/?LegislativeCommittee#documents

 

Advocacy

Senators introduce bipartisan Museum and Library Services Act of 2017

Seal of the United States SenateTake a moment to contact your Senator and remind her how important libraries are!!

From the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS):

“Acknowledging the critical role of libraries as anchor institutions in communities across the nation, a group of senators under the leadership of Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the bipartisan Museum and Library Services Act of 2017 (S. 2271). IMLS logo

The 2017 MLSA reauthorizes the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), showing congressional support for the federal agency. IMLS administers funding through the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA), the only federal program that exclusively covers services and funding for libraries. The LSTA provides more than $183 million for libraries through the Grants to States program, the National Leadership Grants for Libraries, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, and Native American Library Services.

To be clear, S. 2271 would not ensure full funding* for the programs libraries depend on. Reauthorization of the MLSA is not necessary for IMLS to receive funding: the last MLSA expired in 2016. Rather, S. 2271 would authorize IMLS to continue to exist and give direction about how the agency should operate. Passage of this reauthorization bill would signal that Congress values libraries and supports the mission of IMLS. As ALA President Jim Neal expressed it,

“Today’s introduction of the bipartisan MLSA reauthorization is the first critical step toward ensuring federal support for our nation’s nearly 120,000 libraries. LSTA grants enable libraries in every state to innovate and meet the growing demand for services that meet the needs of our communities.”

The 2017 MLSA continues to support the stated mission of IMLS to inspire libraries to “advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement.” It largely mirrors the previous authorization, with some improvements. After considerable input from library professionals across the country, ALA’s Washington Office worked closely with the bill’s lead cosponsors to include numerous recommendations in the legislation such as:

  • explicit allowance for grant funds to be used to help libraries prepare for and provide services after a disaster or emergency;
  • greater use of data-driven tools to measure the impact and maximize the effectiveness of library services; and
  • additional provisions to enable more Native American tribes to participate in IMLS grant programs.

Today’s introduction of the MLSA gives a clear and timely opportunity for each one of our elected federal leaders to show unequivocally their support for libraries.

ALA’s Washington Office encourages you to use the action center to contact your senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 2271. In your emails and calls to senators, tell them how LSTA funds enable your library to offer valuable services to your community. Invite them to visit your library to see for themselves the difference you are making in people’s lives. Ultimately, it is your story and your voice that will persuade your elected leaders to show their support for libraries and cosponsor the MLSA of 2017.

* ALA members have defended funding for IMLS at every turn throughout the appropriations process in 2017, beginning with the administration’s March budget recommendation to effectively eliminate IMLS. That proposal was rejected by House and Senate Appropriators, with both chambers recommending robust funding for IMLS (although final funding bills have not passed Congress). We will aggressively continue our advocacy to fund libraries in the new year. In the meantime, our strategy is to gain cosponsors for MLSA in the Senate and work with representatives to introduce companion legislation in the House.”