LEGISLATIVE DAY IN WASHINGTON Tuesday, April 6 of National Library Week April 4-10, 1976 Sponsors: American Library Association District of Columbia Library Association Librarians' Technical Committee of the Washington Council of Governments SCHEDULE Morning Briefing: 8-10 a.m., Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room, 1st floor. Coffee, handouts, last-minute instructions, briefing on status of library legislation. Congressional Office Visits: 10-3:30 (or according to your previously set appoint- ments). Consult the list of office and telephone num­ bers of Senators and Representatives, and the map in your folder. The Dirksen and Russell Senate Office Buildings are located on the Constituti.on Avenue side of the Capitol, and the Cannon, Longworth, and Rayburn House Office Buildings are on Inde­ pendence Avenue. All Day Information Office: Conference room, Methodist Building, 110 Maryland Ave., N.E., (Just north of Supreme Court and across street from Capitol Grounds;follow signs in building or ask at switchboard.) Wrap-Up Session: 3:30-4:30, Conference room, Methodist Building. For comparing notes, reporting results, etc. Congressional Reception: 5-7 p.m., Rayburn House Office building, Room 2175. Dress informal. Photographer available. Suggestions for lunch: There are full cafeterias as well as lunch counters and snack bars with limited seating in the Capitol and Congress­ ional office buildings. These can be crowded and are restricted at certain times to employees only. The early hours are sometimes least crowded. The main cafeterias on the Hill are listed below. Check with the guards for specific locations. Capitol: Open to public from 8:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m. (restaurant and snack bar) Dirksen Cafeterias: Lunch from 11:00-3:00 (employees only 11:00-1:30) Longworth Cafeteria: Lunch from 11:00-2:30 (employees only 11:45-1:30) Supreme Court Cafeteria: Lunch from 11:00-2:00 (employees only 12:00-12:15 and 1:00-1:15) Other Restaurants: Take Independence Avenue, past the Library of Congress, and in the first few blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. you will find a variety of sandwich shops and luncheon restaurants. Good issues and ideas need lobbyists to get a hear­ By visiting them when they are home - and visit­ WHO'S A LOBBYIST? ing and action. Without "input" from you and many ing them in their sessions. like you, the "exput'" isn't going to represent the BBYIST? Any person who speaks out - needs of the people. In groups . who tries to get ideas across - Good lobbyists work in the public interest, relating their concerns to the overall good. By assembling committees and groups to organize who generates support of a program - effective, continuous work with legislators. Sure - there are some lobbyists with nothing but who speaks to the people who can create, improve axes to grind. They can be offset by individuals acting By doing the research and marshalling the opinions. s are made. or carry out the program. as lobbyists for the common good - and groups concentrating their people into effective lobbyists for By involving a widening circle of knowledgeable needed approaches. persons. WHY DO WE NEED LOBBYISTS? LOBBYISTS ARE NEEDED! Your governments need help! '\ By mail ... In peppery letters that explain your views. YOU ARE NEEDED! In snappy fact sheets that give legislators arguments they can use. In quick notes and wires that strike when the legis­ lation is pending. In thank you·s for their help . and ur oar into the In queries when legislators don't vote your Wa). 0 In letters to friends asking them to be lobbyists, the people who too. HOW DO I LOBBY? ures you know Legislators at all levels - towns and cities and coun­ WHERE? e decisions . ties and townships and state capitols and the U.S. Congress and the agencies of government all need ou know to be your help. In person ... (et a hearing . Lobbyists take the time and trouble to speak out - By getting to know your legislators. your govern- presenting facts and opinions and ideas on which those in government can base their decisions. By calling on them - and calling to them. 2 3 4 Good issues and ideas need lobbyists to get a hear­ By visiting WHO ME? WHO'S A LOBBYIST? ing and action. Without "input" from you and many ing them in like you, the "exput" isn't going to represent the A LOBBYIST? Any person who speaks out - needs of the people. In groups . who tries to get ideas across - Good lobbyists work in the public interest, relating Yes, you. their concerns to the overall good. By assemb who generates support of a program - effective, c~ If you want your opinion heard. Sure - there are some lobbyists with nothing but who speaks to the people who can create, improve axes to grind. They can be offset by individuals acting By doing trl If you care about how and what laws are made. or carry out the program. as lobbyists for the common good - and groups concentrating their people into effective lobbyists for By involvi If you believe in grass roots. needed approaches. persons. WHY DO WE NEED LOBBYISTS? LOBBYISTS ARE NEEDED! Your governments need help! By mail. In peppery YOU ARE NEEDED! In snappy f they can us In quick nu . i lat10n 1s pe9 In thank yo Ci and Lobbying is the process of putting your oar into the In queries legislation stream . 0 In letters t the process of getting your ideas to the people who too. make decisions . HOW DO I LOBBY? the process of providing facts and figures you know Legislators at all levels - towns and cities and coun­ WHERE? to those who need them to make those decisions . ties and townships and state capitols and the U.S. Congress and the agencies of government all need the process of speaking up for what you know to be your help. In person ... good ·ideas which need advocacy to get a hearing . Lobbyists take the time and trouble to speak out - By getting to know your legislators. the process of influencing the way your govern­ presenting facts and opinions and ideas on which those ment, at all levels, makes progress . in government can base their decisions. By calling on them - and calling to them. ~ 1 2 3 ~BY? I TRIED LOBBYING. O.K. IT DIDN'T WORK I AM WILLING TO state representa- HOW many times? LOBBY. and that means Reform is for the long-winded. Good ideas per­ HOW DO I LEARN ideas. colate slowly. Some ideas are ahead of their time ... MORE? and decide how IF at first you don't succeed Find a group that has ideas you like. lhem know what Read all about it - until you are sure you can peedI for protec- TRY, Try Again ... speak up with facts. Come roaring back - with better reasons for what Study the legislative process and know WHEN you want, and more letters and conversations from to turn up in the state capitol or monitor a local more people to hurdle reluctance .. board or catch a bill when it's ripe for action. psay about what Get some practice. Write letters and make a phone Project a time table so you know you may be in call. Make a date with a legislator or an aide. bt to know from for the long haul. Elect new representatives who do listen to you - or will try harder. legislators. Reexamine your program; is it as good as you Join their cam­ thought, as practical, as good an investment of from the grass taxes? Reset your sights. Consider half a loaf now. r people though Talk to the opposition and try to understand it. Then answer the arguments. nd help you to ENJOY lobbying more ... w. THESE TOOLS WILL HELP Share the load by creating groups. "When You Write to Washington" all kinds. Grow Increase your presence - your visibility. "Breaking Into Broadcasting" od, but knowl­ "Action" ,rganize enthusi- Enjoy the people who represent you. Right or published by wrong from your viewpoint, they are usually in­ League of Women Voters of the U.S. teresting, even charming and human! 1730 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. "Braddock's Federal-State-Local Government Directory'' order from American Library Association 50 East Huron Street Chicago, IL. 6061 I "Who Me? A Lobbyist?" was prepared by the Legislation Committee of the American Library Association, and is available from the ALA Washington Office, I JO Mary­ land Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002. Send self­ addressed stam:,ed envelope for single copies. 1976 6 7 - WHOM DO I LOBBY? I TRIED LOBBYING. O.K. Legislators of all kinds - IT DIDN'T WORK I AM WILLING TO local board members, county boards, state representa­ tives and the U.S. Congress. HOW many times? LOBBY. They are elected to represent you, and that means Reform is for the long-winded. Good ideas per­ HOW DO I LEARN listening to you and considering your ideas. colate slowly. Some ideas are ahead of their time ... MORE? People in government - those who make many of the rules and decide how IF at first you don't succeed . Find a group that has ideas you like. laws are to be implemented. You let them know what Read all about it - until you are sure you can rules you can accept and what you need for protec­ TRY, Try Again ... speak up with facts. tion ... Come roaring back - with better reasons for what Study the legislative process and know WHEN Newsmakers - you want, and more letters and conversations from to turn up in the state capitol or monitor a local the media people who have so much to say about what more people to hurdle reluctance .