Connecting Texas to National Advocacy Issues: ALA District Dispatch

by Susi Parks Grissom

 Librarians interested in advocacy issues at the national level will find a great resource in the American Library Association’s Washington Office’s newly redesigned blog, the DISTRICT DISPATCH. The DISPATCH focuses on federal legislation and policy updates that pertain to all types of libraries, including school.  Found at http://www.districtdispatch.org, the blog’s homepage features the daily post, plus links to recent posts in the areas of telecommunications, copyright, privacy & surveillance, and webinars on a variety of advocacy topics.  Readers can easily access past articles on a wide range of topics – including school libraries, digital literacy, and e-books – from a comprehensive listing in a right-hand frame.

Education/School Libraries is a major category under the Issues tab at the top of the blog’s homepage.  This webpage contains information on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as it pertains to school libraries with talking points, as well as links to other education and school library news.  The Take Action tab provides links to help in navigating the ALA Legislative Action Center resources, as well as tools to locate a librarian’s elected officials.  The Resources link under this tab leads to a treasure chest of advocacy training tools, including Advocacy University, with its listing of comprehensive school library advocacy resources.  Other tabs provide extensive resources on legislation, events in Washington, and national policy publications.

With a new Congress beginning its work in Washington, The DISTRICT DISPATCH makes it easy for school librarians in Texas to connect to the national legislative scene.  Subscribe to this informative advocacy tool at http://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/register?0&m=20147 to keep current on national issues, policies, news, and opportunities that impact our Texas school libraries.

Susi Parks Grissom is TASL Legislative/Advocacy Committee Co-Chair