Governor Ridge's 2001-2002 Budget Proposal

Friends Do Indeed Make a Difference

Friends' advocacy efforts have paid off as we see Pennsylvania libraries gaining attention, visibility and support. Legislators are realizing as never before that libraries can be the key to equalizing access to information for all people. And YOU, library friends, have played a significant part in moving libraries to the forefront. Your commitment to the cause and your willingness to become involved, using abilities you weren't aware you had, has made the difference. Legislators, local library and government funding officials expect to hear from library administrators, librarians and other library staff members, urging them to provide money for libraries. Officials know that these folks have a vested interest in keeping their organizations going. But it is YOU, the Friends, the citizens of our Pennsylvania communities whose voices are the most important. You are the library users, the ones who can best tell the stories of the lives that are enriched and changed because of library services.

Exciting Advocacy Opportunities

PaLA's Legislative Day is set for April 24 in Harrisburg. It will be a day of camaraderie, of seeing our state government at work and a chance to exercise and further develop your advocacy skills. If you've not been a part of this event before, you're in for a treat. It is truly a fun event and you'll come away realizing how accessible our state representatives really are. There are other seasoned advocates present so you can feel comfortable and use the experience to learn more about the role. See the details on following pages and plan to participate!

Federal Legislative Day will take place in Washington, DC on May 1. The American Library Association has sent out an appeal to all Friends for support in their appeal for 500 million for LSTA in the next budget. ALA knows the power and influence of Friends' with their legislators and are asking especially for Friends' help. Details appear on the following pages.

The First Annual Friends Institute is scheduled for June 2, 2001 in New Cumberland. PCBL takes seriously its mission to equip and encourage local Friends groups for their advocacy roles at every level — local, state and national. In our continuing effort to train and encourage advocates, PCBL is joining with Commonwealth Libraries to offer this Institute. Details can be found on subsequent pages. Do take advantage of this year's exciting training opportunity.

The First PCBL Friends Institute

PCBL is delighted to be working with Commonwealth Libraries to present the first of what we hope to be an annual educational event for Friends. FRIENDS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE is a day-long program planned for Saturday, June 2, 2001, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Harrisburg Holiday Inn and Conference Center, New Cumberland, PA.

We are pleased to have secured the leadership of Sally Gardner Reed, director of the Norfolk, VA Public Library and a member of the ALA Executive Board. Ms. Reed is the author of a number of books including Saving Your Library: A Guide to Getting, Using and Keeping the Power You Need and Making the Case for Your Library. The day's focus will be on effective strategies to turn passive library support into active support that translates into funding.

Brochures detailing the event with a registration form will be sent directly to Friends' groups and PCBL members within the next few weeks. If you've not received one by May 1, contact PCBL at 1-800-870-3858. In the meantime, listed below is the agenda for the day. Please mark your calendars and recruit your Friends to attend.

AGENDA for Saturday, June 2, 2001

9:30 a.m.	Registration and Refreshments
10:00 a.m.	Effective Library Advocacy
	Presented by Sally Gardner Reed
12:30 p.m.	Luncheon
1:30 p.m.	Three Talk Table Topics:
	1. Recruiting and Retaining Friends Membership
	2. Create a Great Newsletter
	3. Book Sales and Beyond
3:00 p.m.	Wrap-up and Adjournment

Keeping in Touch

If your Friends group has a Newsletter or information on activities to share, please send such information to the Editor:

State Legislative Day
Tuesday, April 24, 2001
Harrisburg, PA

Friends are urged to join librarians, trustees, library users in meeting with state legislators and their staff to discuss library issues, the Governor's proposed budget (see previous page) and your library's funding needs. Talking points, after thanking legislators for their past support of library funding initiatives, could include: descriptions of your library's services and how many people use them; stories about the importance of the library from your library users; recent service improvements, especially those made possible by state funds, and library services your community needs to begin or expand.

You may call your state legislator to make an appointment but coordinate plans with your library's staff. As there may be several people who have the same legislator, it is often most effective to form a team to visit as a group.

The registration form for State Legislative Day and Federal Legislative Day are printed in the paper version of this newsletter which is available on request from:

Federal Legislative Day
Tuesday, May 1, 2001
Washington, DC

You are invited to be a part of the Pennsylvania Library Association's delegation to Legislative Day in Washington. This is an opportunity to make friends for libraries by contacting each congressional office to talk personally about the libraries in that district and in the state and to educate the representative about the value of library services provided to his or her constituents. It is also time to encourage support of the budget requests for libraries for FY 2001-02.

American Library Association staff from the Washington office and Washington lobbyists will provide a day-long briefing on Monday, April 30 at the Holiday Inn on the Hill, 415 New Jersey Avenue, NW. The PaLA delegation will caucus to discuss its strategy for visits on Monday afternoon at 3:30. PaLA has reserved a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn for those who wish to attend the briefing session. However, there is another briefing at 9 a.m. on May 1 for those who are attending just for the day. ALA will provide orientation packets and PaLA will add state specific information for its delegation. The day continues with visits to the congressional offices, and concludes at 5 p.m. with an ALA sponsored reception.