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Libraries from Town Hall to Washington, DC: Have Your
Message Heard!
A Presentation for the New Jersey State Library Trustees
Presenter: Stephanie Vance
Topics
What Influences Elected Officials Tips and Techniques for Breaking Through
the Chaos Practice Makes Perfect! The Top Ten List of Things Elected Officials
and Staff Hate to Hear The One Little Thing That Makes ALL the
Difference
Is Government Broken?
Number of bills introduced in a Congressional session
Percentage of bills that pass Number of bills related to the renaming of post
offices and federal buildings Number of legislators in the NJ Legislature Each member of the NJ House represents
approximately how many people? Average time for a meeting with an elected official
Why is This Important?How Government Policies Affect YOUR Life
Activity Government Impact
Wake up to the Radio FCC Regulation of Spectrum
Have a Cup of Coffee Trade Tariffs on Coffee Beans
Drive to Work Government Building of Roads
Check E-mail Government Regulation of Telephony Services
How Government Policies Affect YOUR Life (Continued)
Activity Government Impact
Restroom Break Local Combined Sewer Overflow Regulations
Pick up Kids at Daycare Local Business Licensing Regulations
Stop at Grocery Store – pick up salad fixings
Government Agriculture Regulations
Go to Sleep Government Regulation of Dreams (Kidding!)
How Government Policies Affect Libraries
Activity Government Impact
Provide access to technology services
LSTA grants
Support for public libraries
Funding initiatives in the New Jersey legislature and locally
Fair use and copyright issues
Federal and state policies
Potential Factors:
Personal _______________– Friends– Staff– Family
Jobs / ____________ Issues in Their Districts
The _______________ ___________________??? The ________________ Their Own ____________
and Passions
MOST IMPORTANT
Their Constituents
Representative Democracy reflects and amplifies the POWER
of the Grassroots
What Doesn’t Influence Elected Officials (you might be surprised!)
Logic Polls Irrelevant statistics Policy requests tied to
campaign contributions
Why Should YOU Advocate? The POWER of Grassroots
Elected officials pay attention to the people who elect them, but only if those people know how to use their “Power of Constituency”
This is why YOUR voice is so important
How to Have Your Message Heard!
What do you want? Who should you ask? How should you ask? How should you
follow-up?
Two Kinds of Asks: Policy Related and Relationship Building
Policy-related– Support for a bill– Support for funding
initiative– Support for change in
policies
Relationship Building– Newsletter Article– Public Statement – One minute or five
minute speech – Site visit– Website statement
Who Should You Ask?
Key Questions Who do they care about?
Why are you relevant?
What does the elected official care about?
How can you frame the message?
Tips on Dealing With Staff
What Are They Looking For?
Remember, Your Issue Is One of Many
Staff Contact Has Advantages Over Member Contact
Institutional Memory in an Elected Official’s Office Can Be Short
Expect (and Appreciate) Youth
How Should You Ask? Follow the SPIT Rule
Be SpecificBe Personal (and Positive)Be InformativeBe TrustworthyOh, and be brief!
The Top Ten List: What Staff & Elected Officials Hate to Hear
10. But I thought my appointment was with the Council member!
9. Here’s some reading material for you – our 300 page annual report
8. How much of a campaign contribution did your boss get to vote against (or for) this bill?
7. I assume you know all about bill number 1234
The Top Ten List, Continued
6. No, I don’t have an appointment but I promise I’ll only take ½ hour of your time.
5. No, I don’t really need anything specific. 4. What you’re telling me can’t be right. I heard
Jon Stewart from the Daily Show say otherwise. 3. We have ten (or more) people in our group. 2. What do you mean we have to stand in the hall?
… And the number one item?
No, I don’t represent anyone from your district. I just thought you’d be interested in what I have to say.
Persistence
Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On”, has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race.
Calvin Coolidge
What can you do to be more persistent?
Ask, ask and ask again until you get an answer If you get an answer you don’t like, ask a different
question Utilize all the resources at your disposal (NJSL,
NJLA and the NJLTA as well as the ALA and other acronyms!)
Find out this afternoon about more advocacy techniques – and maybe even create your own campaign!
Learn more about advocacy… Where can you find more resources?
The Five Minute Action Plan
Based on everything we’ve discussed, what three things will you do in the next six months to advocate for library issues in New Jersey?
Contact Information
Stephanie Vance
Advocacy Associates
1640 19th St., NW
Second Floor
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 234-1353
www.advocacyassociates.com