Every year, the Illinois Library Association, the ILA Advocacy Committee and the directors of the Illinois Library Systems invite library supporters to take part in Illinois Library Day, a single-day push to get Illinois’ legislators to hear about the issues that matter to libraries from as many constituents as possible.

This year, it’s time to bring the message home! ILA and the System Directors are asking library staff and trustees across Illinois to make appointments on April 16 to meet with their legislators in their local offices. By visiting locally, you can impress upon legislators that libraries are a local issue!

The goal is to make as many visits as possible on April 16, the Friday of National Library week. (If you are unable to visit your legislators on that day, ILA has designated the following Monday, April 19, as an alternate date). These visits are coordinated in partnership with the nine Illinois library systems, so be sure to coordinate with your library system to arrange the specifics of your visit.

Alliance Library System (contact Lee Logan)
DuPage Library System (contact Denise Zielinski)
Lewis & Clark Library System (contact Judy Rake)
Lincoln Trail Libraies System (contact Jan Ison)
Metropolitan Library System (contact Alice Calibrese)
North Suburban Library System (contact Alan Minarik)
Prairie Area Library System (contact Inara McGroarty)
Rolling Prairie Library System (contact Bev Obert or Peggy Durst)
Shawnee Library System (contact Joe Harris)

Things to remember when planning your meetings:

  • There is strength in numbers. Communicate with other librarians in your legislative district and visit your legislators together. This will save your legislator time, and if you forget some vital fact, your neighbor will remember it!
  • Work with your neighbor libraries to host a legislative event. Invite your legislator and neighboring librarians, trustees, and interested citizens.
  • If you don’t know who your legislator is you can get the information on CapWiz.

On Monday, April 12 at 10 a.m. there will be a web-based briefing session featuring Kip Kolkmeier, ILA Lobbyist, to provide you with an opportunity to learn about library issues prior to your personal meetings.