4/1/2025 1 "Trump Administration Moves to Shutter Library Agency." (The New York Times, 3/31/2025). ![]() 3/18/2025 from ALA Last night the President signed an order to gut the Institute of Museum & Library Services. But together, we know we can show up & defeat it. We'll have more to share in the coming days. But what can you do right now? Call your members of Congress. Call your state and local officials. Tell them exactly what's at stake if the President's order stands: the future of America's libraries. It's time to Show Up #ForOurLibraries: bit.ly/ProtectLibraryFunding Full Executive Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/continuing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy/ Important Advocacy Documents
IMLS draws less than 0.003% of the annual federal budget yet has enormous impact in communities nationwide. From technology classes for jobseekers to services for people with disabilities, from library delivery for older Americans to summer reading programs for families, IMLS funding makes a real, concrete difference in the lives of Americans every day. The President’s executive order puts all of those services at risk—and so much more. Veterans, businesses, students, families, unemployed and underemployed people, disabled people, and seniors use services supported by IMLS. As seedbeds of education and innovation, our nation’s 125,000 public, school, academic, and special libraries deserve more, not less support. We need every library supporter to show up and make their voices heard. | ADVOCACY
3/5/3025 From Deb Froggatt: The gathering in Norwood this past Sunday and Monday with many of you was energizing and heartwarming. The collective effort and care given on behalf of the Commonwealth's children is a testament the impact that our profession has on academic success.
I write to ask you to reach out to your state representatives and senators to ask them to add their names as sponsors to the bills listed below. Here is the Find Your Legislator tool.
* School Library Standards This bill will help establish the AASL standards and require that DESE performs a school librarian survey so we have an accurate look at equitable access to effective school library programs. The bill is SD.1769. Here is the School Library Standards One Pager.
* Freedom to Read These bills would further protect libraries and librarians from censorship and abuse. There are several bills, but we are asking for legislators to sponsor SD.141 and HD.625. You can share this Freedom to Read handout with your legislators.
* eBook Bill - These bills would work towards increasing access to digital resources, while also creating a fairer pricing model for libraries. The bills include SD.2329 and HD.1221. You can share this eBook handout with your legislators. Senator Jacob Oliveira spoke Monday morning. The energy in the room regarding his support of our efforts was powerful. We are fortunate to have him as a school library advocate. Please reach out and thank him: Jacob.Oliveira@masenate.gov Your correspondence of thanks and seeking support truly make a difference. |
Purpose of the MTA School Library Task Force:The MTA Task Force on Equity in PreK-12 School Libraries was the result of New Business Item #4, adopted by the MTA Annual Meeting of Delegates in May 2018. The Task Force was formed to gather data about the state of school library staffing in MTA locals, inspire MTA members to look into issues of inequitable access to licensed school librarians and library programs, and provide tools members can use for advocating and bargaining to remedy this inequity. LEARN MORE: https://massteacher.org/employment-and-licensure/mta-school-library-task-force |
1/2025 Senator Oliveira has filed the School Library Standards Act SD1769
The bill was based on the MSLA Policy Brief (April, 2024) that John helped MSLA to write. From this John prompted us to develop this MSLA Legislative Proposal 12/24. Legislative season began quickly. From this proposal, John pulled out two important elements for legislation that requires no funding. The survey mentioned in the legislation will bring supporting data from which we can construct, in time, funded legislation for equitable student access to effective school library programs across the Commonwealth. ~ Deborah Froggatt, Director of Outreach 1/31/2025
Advocacy Chairperson