MLA Advocacy - November 23, 2016

Thanksgiving is the time of year we like to take a moment to reflect on what we are thankful for. Of course, family and friends are first on my list. However, I am also grateful for the opportunity to work for the libraries and library professionals who help make our communities vibrant, inviting and informed. This is also a good time to say thank you to the hundreds of librarians who engage their elected officials and meet with them on a regular basis. I especially send my appreciation to those who serve on the MLA Legislative Committee and MLA Board of Directors along with the librarians I have called on repeatedly to contact their legislator to help us move a bill or support a position. Without your support, my job would be impossible.

MLA Advocacy - October 27, 2016

October has been relatively quiet at the Capitol. The House remained on break while the Senate was in session last week. Both chambers return after the election on November 9 and 10. Then they are off for two weeks and resume November 29 and 30 and again for seven days in December.

MLA Advocacy - September 22, 2016

Tax Capture Legislation Headed for a Hearing

The MLA initiated tax capture package SB 579 and SB 619-624 are currently in the House Tax Policy Committee. We met with the committee chair Rep. Farrington who has assured us he is considering the bills for a hearing this fall.

MLA Advocacy - August 25, 2016

Future Library Leaders Embrace the First Amendment

The first amendment protects our rights to free speech and our library community spent a great deal of time defending those rights this year. It’s important to note that the first amendment also protects our right to petition for governmental redress of grievances and this is a pretty fair definition of lobbying. So it’s safe to say our ability to engage with our elected officials is safeguarded in the bill of rights.

MLA Advocacy - July 28, 2016

Our Push for Relief from Tax Capture Continues this Fall

A little over a year ago MLA sent out a survey asking member librarians to tell us how tax capture entities were impacting your library budgets. We heard from you. Some of you told us you were losing up to 50 percent of your library budget to tax captures. Others noted dozens of tax captures in your library district. It was reported a number of the tax captures had been in existence for decades with no signs of ending.