Description:
This session is designed to equip professional academic, school, public, and special, library staff with the resources and knowledge needed to effectively organize local meetings with legislators, navigate Library Advocacy Day in Albany, and stay engaged in library advocacy year-round.
Learning Goals:
- Understand NYLA’s Advocacy Messaging: Participants will learn how to locate and use the New York Library Association’s (NYLA) preferred advocacy messaging and understand the importance of a unified message in library advocacy efforts.
- Improve Scheduling Strategies: Participants will gain knowledge on best practices for scheduling appointments with representatives, both locally and in Albany.
- Enhance Communication and Relationship-Building: Participants will develop skills to effectively communicate with legislative offices, including timing and follow-up strategies.
- Navigate Library Advocacy Day: Participants will become familiar with the structure and key activities of Library Advocacy Day in Albany and learn practical tips for successfully navigating the event, including networking and handling unexpected challenges.
- Maintain Year-Round Advocacy Engagement: Participants will explore ways to stay engaged in advocacy efforts throughout the year, including staying updated on legislative changes, collaborating with others, and ongoing campaigns and resources available through NYLA to support continuous advocacy efforts.
This session will be recorded and made available to all who register.
Event Date:
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Presenter Information:
Panelists: Heidi Ziemer, WNYLRC | Brian Hoth, Hamburg Public Library | Brian Mayer, Erie 2 BOCES SLS | Lucy Waite, Villa Maria College | Max Prime, NYLA
This session will be moderated by Caitlin Kenney, WNYLRC.
Heidi Ziemer has worked at WNYLRC for over 34 years, serving the Western New York region's libraries and archives. She received her training from the National Archives where she spent two years as an appraisal archivist before assuming the role of Regional Archivist for the WNY Documentary Heritage Program of the New York State Archives in 1990. Since that time, she has taken on several other roles at WNYLRC, including WNYLRC's Advocacy Coordinator. As part of her duties since 2015, Heidi has been coordinating WNYLRC's legislative advocacy efforts at the state and local level. Working with our member libraries to educate policymakers about the value of libraries in the community.
Brian Hoth has been employed by the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library for 27 years and has been a librarian for 20 years. He began his career as a clerk typist in the Department of Extension Services primarily working at the Erie County Correctional Facility and Holding Center. He was periodically assigned the Bookmobile, RAM Van and Lookie Bookie. After completing his MLS in 2004, he was appointed Librarian I and assigned to the North Park Library. In 2008, he was promoted to Librarian II and assigned to the Gonzalez Soto Branch (formerly the Niagara Branch) as the Branch Manager. He also managed the Children’s Department, eBranch/ILL Department at the Central Library. In 2016, he was promoted to Librarian III and oversaw the Library’s recently acquired new Bookmobile (Library on Wheels). In 2017, he was hired as the Director of the Hamburg Public Library. Mr. Hoth also holds an Advanced Certificate in Public Library Administration from Long Island University.
Lucy Waite, MSIS is the Director of Library Services & Instructional Resources and a core curriculum course instructor at Villa Maria College. She has served on several WNYLRC Committees and is currently a member of the Library, Education, Advocacy, and Partnerships Committee.
Brian Mayer is the Director of the Erie 2 BOCES School Library System and a current member of the WNYLRC Library, Education, Advocacy, and Partnerships Committee.
Max Prime is the Director of Government Relations and Advocacy for the New York Library Association.
