On the Road Again- National Library Legislative Day in Washington D.C.

May 18, 2007

Gisa Power goes to Washington, D.C.National Library Legislative Day in Washington D.C.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 was National Library Legislative Day an annual gathering of librarians and library supporters from across the country. Bev and Gisa were a part of over seventy Illinois participants the largest state delegation who committed to come to Washington to meet with their legislators  in support of library literacy and education.

We met in Lincoln and drove to Bloomington boarded a plane, had a layover in Chicago an then headed for Washington D.C. We took a cab from the airport to the hotel Capitol Hill Suites, checked in, settled in and then walked a few blocks to a Greek restaurant and had dinner with a few of Bev’s friends. That evening we read through our information packets to be prepared for the coming days of activities. It should be noted that Gisa is a shutter bug and that we filled three cameras with pictures. Some of which will not see the light of day. (Bev)

Gisa Power at the capital.

 Bev at the Library of Congress fountain.

Gisa Power with the Meehan's.

  

Gisa Power at the Holiday Inn for the briefing session.The next morning we walked to the Holiday inn on the Hill to begin our day’s activities. This day consisted of a full day starting in the morning with issue briefings. We had lunch at Union Station and then continued with workshops. The workshops included:

1. Telecom/Internet
2. Privacy & Patriot; Copyright
3. Honing the Message
4. Government Info/Federal Libraries

That evening there was a reception at the Republican Capitol Hill Club that included a reception hour and a sit down dinner. The speaker for the evening was Michael Strautmanis, Senator Barack Obama’s Chief General Counsel. He spoke of his years of knowledge of the Senator and his friendship with him as well as how his running for president came about. He also spoke about how Senator Obama has to be able to separate his campaign from his job as senator.

Gisa Power and Bev Obert with Representative Phil Hare.The next day we went to the offices of the representatives we needed to see on Capitol Hill. We spoke to Representative Phil Hare and representatives from the offices of John Shimkus, Ray LaHood, Timothy Johnson, Richard Durbin, and Barack Obama. We spoke about Key issues.

1. Appropriations

  1. LSTA grant funding
  2.  Improving Literacy through School Libraries
  3.  No Child left behind reauthorization
  4. Higher education (Librarian Act of 2007)

2. Telecommunications and Internet Issues

  1. E-Rate and the Anti-Deficiency Act
  2. Network Neutrality
  3. Broadband Deployment
  4. Blocking & Filtering
  5. Copyright

3. Open Government and Access to Government Information

  1. Open Government Legislation
  2. Open CRS
  3. Federal Libraries

4. Privacy and Surveillance

  1. REAL ID
  2. PATRIOT Act/Nation Security Letters

Gisa spoke with Rep Ray LaHood, and Bev spoke with Rep. Tim Johnson. Bev also met with representative of Rep John Schimkus and the Legislative aides for Senator Durbin, Sirat Attapit and for Senator Obama, Steven Anderson.

Gisa Power at the American Indian Museum.

Gisa Power at the American Indian Museum.

Bev, Gisa and others pose with the Brooklyn Library Trustee who won the flag, which was flown over the capital during National Library Week.Gisa went with the members of the Alliance Library System to meet with Representative Ray LaHood, and she lunched with members and staff of the Alliance Library System at the American Indian Museum on Wednesday.

After we finished meeting with the representatives, we attended the Friends of the Library USA Reception from 5-7 PM at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where they awarded Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) the Friends of the Library U.S.A. award. They also announced the winner of the National Library Legislative Day 2007 Student Contest,  who was Danny Chapman of Lake Forest, Illinois. His winning entry was titled “Check Out the Future”.

A Brooklyn Library Trustee won a flag that had flown over the capital during National Library Week. Gisa felt that the Brooklyn Library Trustee's enthusiasm certainly made her a deserving recipient of the flag.

IL Senators Barack Obama and Dick Durbin at Breakfast briefing session.Gisa Power at Chicago, Ohare, heading home.The next morning we attended the Constituents Coffee at 8:30 AM. Both Senators, Durbin and Obama, were there. They both spoke eloquently about the issues they are facing and answered questions from the 400 or so Illinoisans or Wanabe Illinoisans that attended. The Illinois group had a picture taken with the Senators. Then it was back home to Illinois. We headed back to the hotel, got our bags, checked out, went to the airport, boarded a plane and arrived safely and a little more tired in Illinois. 

Gisa Power, RPLS Board President & Bev Obert, RPLS Executive Director