How to be an Advocate without Lobbying

Beth Yoke, YALSA Executive Director

What We’ll Cover Today

• Defining terms: what is what

• Legal underpinnings• Political activity• Lobbying• Advocacy activities• Q&A / idea sharing

Terminology

Each of these is different, although often they’re mistakenly used as if they’re interchangeable:• Political activity• Lobbying• Advocating

Why Restrictions Exist

Tax status• Federal law limits what kinds of

government affairs activities a 501c3 organizations can dooAbsolutely no political campaigningoLimited lobbying (varies based on how

not-for-profits file for taxes)

Good brief overview: http://bit.ly/FRxaZg

Political Activity – never ok

Lobbying – some ok

• Asking an official to oppose or support a piece of legislation

• Any communication that refers to and reflects a view on a specific legislative proposal or bill

Actions whose purpose is to influence legislation

Ask your supervisor for policies or guidelines

Advocacy – always ok

• Communications with government officials or between organizations & their members that does not attempt to influence legislation

• Education• Providing expertise or technical assistance• Releasing data, research or survey results of

nonpartisan studies• Discussing broad policy issues (social,

economic, etc.)• Self defense

Types of Advocacy

Communicate

• Goal is to raise awareness & visibility

• Create a regular schedule: monthly messages are a good frequency

• Let library leaders, officials & policy makers know what’s going on

• Keep messages positive and respectful• Idea is to inform, not to complain

Discuss

• Take time to meet with policy makers and elected officials to talk about issues that are important to them & their voters, including:• Adolescent literacy• Internet safety• Workforce development / career prep• Digital literacy skills

Show how the library helps with these• Quarterly meetings are a good amount• Be positive & respectful• Bring a teen, parent or other advocate

Educate

• Officials aren’t aware of how the library helps the teens & their families in your community unless you & your advocates tell them or show them

• An official in-the-know can make informed decisions

• Other library staff would benefit from knowing teen services basics

Share Expertise

• Become a valuable resource• Ensure officials & policy

makers have the information they need to make informed decisions

• Show how library resources can be used to support their work

• Provide information and training to library coworkers• Create a culture where all

staff value teen services

Build Relationships

• Most time-consuming part of advocacy

• Can have the biggest results• If a positive working relationship

is in place, a level of trust comes with it• The outcome is that it’s easier

to discuss difficult issues & reach compromises

Be Visible

• Who:– You, your teen space– Your teen patrons & their

parents• When: as often as possible• How:

– In person– Online

• Why: the squeaky wheel gets the grease

Resources

• Free toolkit• Free webinar• Canned presentation• Downloadable handouts• Tip sheets• Wiki page for adding & sharing content

www.ala.org/yalsa/advocacy

Questions? Comments? Ideas?

• What haven’t we covered?

• What would you like to know in more detail?

• What ideas or comments do you want to share?

Contact

Beth Yokebyoke@ala.org312.280.4391LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/AmcIGu

YALSAEmail: yalsa@ala.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/yalsaPhone: 312.280.4390Twitter: @yalsa