ALAO Government Relations Team

The ALAO Government Relations Team (GRT) is appointed by the ALAO Board of Directors to coordinate the organization's legislative advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels of government. Members of the team commit themselves to staying informed about legislative activity that has a particular bearing on the work of academic libraries. Moreover, the GRT is responsible for informing ALAO members about these legislative matters and for seeking their participation in advocacy efforts.

Grassroots involvement is primarily achieved through the ALAO Legislative Advocates Network, a group of volunteer ALAO members, ideally representing all of Ohio's congressional districts. Members of the Network agree to receive and respond to legislative alerts, gleaned by the GRT from the ALA Washington Office Newsletter (ALAWON) and other sources.

In an effort to increase the involvement of academic librarians in the annual ALA National Library Legislative Day, the GRT administers the ALAO Legislative Advocate Travel Award. The award provides funding for a member of the Advocates Network to attend this very rewarding event held in Washington D.C. during the month of May.

For more information about the work of the Government Relations Team, please feel free to contact any one of us with your questions;

Joe Salem (jsalem@lms.kent.edu)
Paul Burnam (pdburnam@owu.edu)
Cindy Kristof (ckristof@lms.kent.edu)

ALAWON
ALAO Legislative Advocates Network
Advocates Travel Award
Send a Letter to Washington