Postcard Campaign ends July 25
Over 2,500 postcards sent in first roundThe message is still important! Let’s keep up the momentum!
Wisconsin Library Systems have launched a postcard-writing campaign to send a strong and coordinated message of support for all 467 public libraries in Wisconsin. Your system is coordinating the distribution of postcards and promotional materials, as well as the collection of completed postcards.
The power to advocate for Wisconsin libraries
About this toolkit
This toolkit gives you the words and ideas you need to empower your staff, board, and community to advocate for Wisconsin libraries. It's a dynamic website, so check back for updates. On this page you'll find:
- weekly actions
- key talking points
- social media and communication resource hub
- examples from libraries and systems
Everything on this page is here for you to use. You have the power to advocate for our libraries.
On this website
This week's message
In the News
What you need to know about nonprofit advocacy
Resource hub: digital and printable media resources
How to talk to media and patrons
Find additional resources in our shared Google folder.
Copy these resources for your social media outreach. Click on the information to see full text and image.
Tell them you’re watching
This week let's share Michael Threet's post from ALA showing the empty IMLS booth: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2458423994530041&set=a.158261157879681 And add this text: It's time to Speak Up For Libraries! Please stop in to one of our libraries to fill...
It’s not too late! Support public library funding today!
Copy this text and create a social media post. Use the graphic provided, or create one of your own. Suggested text: It's not too late! Support public library funding today! Libraries need champions like you. Stop into the library to fill out a postcard, leave it at...
This is happening right now!
Copy this text to your social media post, or create your own message. The federal budget is being hashed out as you read this post. There's a very real possibility that funding for public libraries will be stripped out of the budget. The Institute of Museum and...
How to talk to media and patrons
“Libraries are crucial for education, digital resources, job support, and community connection. Help ensure their future by supporting continued funding.”
These documents have all the information you’ll need to clearly communicate the value of libraries, the impact of funding cuts, how library funding works, and more.
Click the buttons to get the latest version as a Word Document.
What you need to know: nonprofit advocacy
Your library probably receives public funding from your municipality, the state, and the federal government. Organizations receiving tax dollars may not engage in partisan political activity of any kind, so libraries need to be extremely careful when discussing specific ballot measures or candidates.
Your Friends of the Library group is probably organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. These organizations are also prohibited from directly or indirectly engaging in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate, making public statements for or against a candidate, or making contributions to political campaign funds. Any organization that does so risks the revocation of their tax-exempt status. Friends groups should be aware of this when assisting with any ballot measures or elections related to the library.
You can:
- participate in activities like voter education, voter registration, and get-out-the-vote drives as long as they are conducted in a non-partisan manner;
- educate the public about library issues, and the impact they will have on them and their library;
- encourage people to vote (but you cannot tell people how to vote);
- encourage people to contact their elected officials (but not tell them what to say).
For more general information about nonprofit advocacy, the National Council of Nonprofits put together an updated and thorough page related to the the impact of executive orders on nonprofits.
In the news
State Biennial Budget
POLITICS Legislature passes and Evers signs budget after sprint to get ahead of Trump big bill Milwaukee Journal Sentinal article
Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden speaks out on her firing by Trump
Last month, Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American to hold the position of Librarian of Congress, received an email that...
Tribal librarian fired then rehired due to Trump cuts provides needed services for Ojibwe
Frank Vaisvilas Milwaukee Journal Sentinel A popular and well-respected librarian for the Bad River Public Tribal Library in northern Wisconsin, who...
Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson leads Senate Republican opposition to Trump’s signature budget bill
From WPR: "A budget bill that would form the cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s agenda passed the U.S. House last week with support from all...
This week’s message