The following is abstracted from a recent press release from the American
Library Association.
ALA's "Rally for America's Libraries" campaign, originally launched in 1991 to
increase public awareness of the funding problems experienced by many
libraries and to rally support, will go online in 1994.
More than 10,000 letters and 45,000 statements in support of libraries were
received during 1993; almost 500,000 people, including Pres. Clinton, Jesse
Jackson, Katharine Hepburn, and Walter Cronkite, have registered their support
since the program's inception. The campaign will continue in 1994 with the
addition of an electronic mailbox to receive statements of support.
In support of the National LIbrary Week (April 17-23, 1994) theme of
"Libraries Change Lives", libraries are encouraged to collect statements of
100 words or less about how the library has made a difference. Library
supports can also send their statements direct by electronic mail via Internet
to sup-lib@uicvm.uic.edu or Bitnet to sup-lib@uicvm. To submit by mail, send
to ALA Public Information Office, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611.
According to ALA President Hardy Franklin, the letters will be used "to
convince legislators at all levels that libraries must be fully funded in the
Information Age." ALA has already used letters collected previously in
testimony before government agencies. Letters collected will be hand-delivered
to members of Congress during the Library Legislative Day on April 19, 1994.
For a free National Library Week tip sheet, contact the ALA Public Information
Office (800/545-2433, ext. 5044). A free brochure, "Has the Library Made a
Difference In Your LIfe?," is also available.---Frank Houdek, AALL Public
Relations Coordinator
Frank G. Houdek, Law Library Director (618) 453-8788
School of Law Library, Mailcode 6803 FAX: (618) 453-8728
Southern Illinois University Bitnet: HOUDEK@SIUCVMB
Carbondale, IL 62901-6803 Internet: HOUDEK@SIUCVMB.SIU.EDU
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