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Colorado
Association of Libraries wins ALA President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by
United for Libraries
PHILADELPHIA — The Colorado Association of Libraries is the recipient of the
2013 ALA President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by United for Libraries.
The Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) won for its 2012 campaign
"Literacy Through Libraries: A Dollar Does It.” The campaign was to restore
state funding for libraries; although a funding mechanism in the state budget
had existed since 2001, the line item had gone unfunded for years due to budget
constraints. This left Colorado as one of only a few states with no direct
support of libraries.
CAL requested one dollar per capita, for a total of $5.2 million statewide.
The legislative committee that designed the request felt that it was unlikely
the full amount would be received, but the goal was to receive any funding
possible, and re-establish libraries as a priority in the state budget. The
campaign information with the theme was distributed statewide to library
directors, trustees, friends and foundations. CAL heard from supporters across
the state who stepped up on behalf of libraries, and was notified that the
joint budget committee approved a motion to include $2 million to fund the
State Grants to Libraries Act for only the second time in 10 years.
"We are gratified that our legislators responded to the targeted message and
campaign carried on by so many library advocates in Colorado,” said Robin Gard
of the CAL Legislative Committee. "We have made every effort to establish
on-going relationships with state lawmakers through sharing the library’s role
in helping Coloradans succeed.”
For a complete summary of the campaign, visit www.ala.org/united/grants_awards/advocacy.
The ALA President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by United for Libraries,
includes $1,000 to the winning state campaign for the further development of
citizens across the state as advocates. CAL will be recognized at the Opening
General Session of the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, Ill.
United for
Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and
Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports
citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for
Libraries brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations
into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century.
For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact
Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org. Click here for the actual submission letter to ALA.
 For the latest Colorado Libraries Journal click here. |
