Welcome!

Please keep in mind that is a draft--we know it is incomplete in various sections. We wanted to get something started in time for this Legislative Day. We will continue to make progress. Please share your comments & ideas with mscott@selco.info.

This site is intended to assist both newcomers and old hands advocate for Minnesota libraries of all types. The hope is to provide a one-stop spot for information about what is going on in the current legislative session, an overview of how Minnesota libraries and systems work together to meet the needs of all Minnesotans, how to participate in Library Legislative Day, and an "Advocacy 101" introduction to those who may be new to advocacy.

Use the tabs to navigate to the section you want to view. 

• Legislative Updates are provided by the MLA/MEMO lobbyist to keep everyone up-t-date on legislative activities that impact libraries.
• Library Legislative Day explains the purpose of the Day & offers hints on how to make the most of the day.
• Advocacy 101 offers an overview of advocacy, especially as it relates to libraries.
• Minnesota Legislature 101 explains how the Legislature is structured and the Committees libraries need to know.
• Grassroots Advocacy offers ideas on how best to contact your legislator, letter writing & visit tips, & more.
• About MN Libraries explains how libraries and library systems are organized and funded. This will hope people understand what is funded at the state or local level, what elements of library budgets rely on state support, and a list of library acronyms.

Minnesotans Rely On Libraries

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Libraries Rely On Systems

 

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Sample Letter About School Librarians/Libraries

This letter describes how school librarians are an important part of K-12 education. It is written from the viewpoint of MEMO, but language here can be customized to local situations.

Dear Minnesota State Senator or Representative:

The Minnesota Education Media Organization (MEMO) is the professional organization for school library media specialists, technology integrationists, and technology coordinators in Minnesota. We would like to introduce ourselves to you so that you are aware of the work we do in our schools and the positive impact we have on Minnesota student achievement.

We know you are facing very difficult decisions during this legislative session as you work to develop policies, programs, and a state budget that is sustainable for Minnesota’s economic climate. As you consider Minnesota’s priorities, we look to you to ensure Minnesota’s education system continues to produce students who are prepared to succeed in a 21^st century global economy.

MEMO members work in public schools, private schools, and charter schools throughout the state.  Studies conducted in 19 states conducted over the past 20 years have demonstrated how school libraries have had a positive impact on student achievement in reading and other content areas.  In addition, a school library program that is sufficiently staffed with a licensed professional, resourced with materials aligned to curriculum, and adequately funded can lead not only to student achievement gains, but also builds critical information and learning skills needed by today’s students.

School libraries are the center of information literacy and 21^st century skills. Research tells us our students need to be critical thinkers, proficient communicators, effective collaborators, and creative, life-long learners.  Our members teach students to be effective and ethical users of information. We build literacy through promoting reading , teaching effective research practices, and stimulating the curiosity of our students to master core academic content at a deep level.  Difficult economic circumstances in the past few years, however, have meant that many school districts have found it necessary to cut school libraries, technology resources, and staff in order to maintain operation with continually shrinking revenues.

We are critical partners to student success. As you do your difficult work this legislative session, please remember that Minnesota’s education system needs your support, both through sound fiscal practices in school funding and through education policies that support our students.  A strong K-12 education system is essential to Minnesota’s ability to establish a healthy economic climate for business and industry and to remain globally competitive.  School libraries are the foundation of such a system.

We invite you to learn more about us and the work we do. Please visit us at http://www.memo.org. We are attaching our 2011 Legislative Platform and some additional resources relating to the critical nature of school libraries and education technology for your information.

Thank you for all the hard work you do on behalf of Minnesota citizens. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Sample Letter for Library MOE

Note: Contact your local legislators on this topic important to libraries around the state and your local public library. Customize the sample language and include local examples of current funding levels to illustrate your point. Contact your regional public library system for specific data.

You can find additional talking points about MOE and libraries on the Council of Regional Public Library Administrators (CRPSLA) website.

Dear [Senator or Representative X]:

Public libraries provide a vibrant source of information and programming throughout Minnesota.  In these challenging economic times public libraries have seen a dramatic increase in the usage of materials and services.  As library patrons use more books, music, and movies, public libraries are also seeing increased use of their computer resources by those community members seeking employment, accessing government services, or continuing their educational studies.  Public libraries also partner with other institutions within their community to provide services for library patrons including local public and private K-12 schools, local colleges and universities, and other community organizations.  

Minimum level of support and maintenance of effort are baseline funding amounts needed to ensure a stable funding stream to maintain these services and partnerships.  This stability guarantees to all Minnesota residents that their local public library will receive enough funding to provide basic services.  Residents can expect adequate library service on a consistent basis without fear of losing it due to unexpected decreases in library funding.

In 2008, the Minnesota Library Funding (MLF) Committee, a combination of county commissioners, library trustees, library directors, and state staff, formed to examine the then current Minnesota State Statutes (134.34) as they reference library maintenance of effort and also the Minnesota State Library Services Terms and Guidelines regarding maintenance of effort.  As part of their charge, the MLF Committee reviewed the statutes and guidelines in view of the issues and concerns that have been raised by city and county officials and library boards and librarians over the past several years. Their findings resulted in a bipartisan-supported reform in 2009 to library maintenance of effort which to date is the only major maintenance of effort reform signed into law in recent years.  These changes allow library budgets to be reduced in direct proportion to the loss of state aid funds to cities and counties.

H.F. 07 and its companion S.F. 159 call for the repeal of several sections of the Minnesota State Statutes, including Section 134.34, which specifically addresses minimum levels of funding for public libraries.   If maintenance of effort and minimum level of support are repealed, the ability of Minnesota residents to receive adequate library service on a consistent basis will be severely hindered.  I ask that you and your House and Senate colleagues reconsider the effects this bill would have on public library service in Minnesota, and move to retain MN State Statute Section 134.34.

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Library Maintenance of Effort Talking Points

The Minnesota Library Association opposes the repeal of public library maintenance of effort. Recent amendments to 134.34 provide flexibility to local units of government while ensuring financial accountability, promoting statewide cooperation, striving for equity, and continuing flexibility for local decision-makers.

Accountability: Funding public libraries is a shared responsibility between cities, counties and the state. The state requires cities and counties to maintain their effort in funding public libraries in exchange for receiving state library funds. This requirement ensures that each level of government lives up to its responsibility. State funds are intended to supplement, not supplant, local funds.

Cooperation: Public libraries work closely together across city and county boundaries to stretch our dollars. We share books and other library resources, technology, staff training and more. Your local library card is accepted at public libraries across the state. This system of cooperation relies on each library doing its part. If a library fails to maintain effort and services are reduced, its residents will use a neighboring library. If the disparity in services becomes too great, this system of cooperation will be endangered. Libraries that contribute far more than they receive may withdraw in order to protect their local taxpayers. Cooperative efforts work best when everyone contributes and everyone benefits.

Equity: In some parts of the state, city residents are paying most of the cost of their library while county residents (who do not live in a city with a library) pay very little, but have full access to that city library. These inequities would be exacerbated if maintenance of effort were repealed.

Flexibility: In 2009 the Legislature enacted significant changes to library maintenance of effort. These reforms gave cities and counties more flexibility in setting library budgets. Libraries worked with cities and counties to address concerns about library maintenance of effort. This was the only relief that cities and counties were given from the array of maintenance of effort requirements they must meet.

Maintenance of effort is a leveling tool for local government. Library maintenance of effort enables a community to continue offering services while managing funding as necessitated by these challenging economic times. Without some form of maintenance of effort, library funding could go up and down, perhaps drastically. This could lead to teeter-tottering operational budgets.

A printable PDF of these talking points is available on this page of the MLA website.