BE A HELEN PLUM LIBRARY ADVOCATE!

You can be an advocate for the Library! We would appreciate your support in discussing library issues with our representatives in Springfield and in Washington. Our state and federal legislators need your input to guide them in the voting process. In fact, the most important voice, speaking in support of library issues, is yours. You are the voter, and representatives in Springfield and Washington really want, and need, to hear from you. If you hear of pending legislation that might affect libraries, feel free to contact your representatives. On some issues, they may only hear from two or three people, so a single voice can be persuasive!

Illinois legislators often consider new laws dealing with such diverse topics as:

funding and taxes
library operations
public Internet use
confidentiality of library records
terms of office of Trustees
access to library files
ethics issues
library theft

among many others.

In Lombard, every resident is represented in Springfield either by Senators Ron Sandack or Carole Pankau, and by either Representatives Chris Nybo, Sandy Pihos, or Dennis Reboletti. If you aren’t sure who your representative is, or need contact information, call the Library at 627-0316.

At the federal level, there are also laws affecting libraries, that deal with funding, copyright, access to federal papers, and again, Internet use in public libraries and schools. Lombard is entirely within the 6th congressional district, represented by Congressman Peter Roskam.

Incidentally, letters to Washington through the U.S. mail are the least effective way to communicate, as they go through an anthrax screening process that can take months. Faxes, phone calls, or emails are best.

For an update on state-level legislative issues, visit http://www.ila.org/advocacy/index.htm. If you want to learn more about pending legislation, or see how these laws affect the Plum Library, feel free to contact me, and I will give you talking points. Call me at 630-656-6901, or email bharris@helenplum.org.

Click here for a listing of your representatives in Springfield and in Washington.

As I always tell our legislators, “Thank you for your support”.

Bob Harris
Library Director