Mississippi Library Association 2022 Pre-Conference 

From Advocacy to Activism Pre-Conference Session Description

Presented by: John Chrastka

October 11, 2022

4 Hour Session

Advocacy and Activism are interrelated but are not the same. In order to succeed in either an advocacy effort or an activism campaign, it is critically important for library leaders to understand the differences in the techniques you should use and the messages you should share. As we face ongoing budget problems and other challenges at all levels of government, a new kind of approach to both advocacy and activism is key in building support among the elected officials who control your finances and participate in your contracts. That starts with understanding the theories behind both advocacy and activism. This half-day pre-conference will explore strategies and tactics used by some of the best community organizers, political action committees, and politicians to effect change and build power. We will emphasize the resources and skills that Librarians and Library staff need to develop if they want to have the political and community support needed to increase funding. From building coalitions to activating activists, attendees will come away with practical and actionable insights to help you in either type of effort.

Presenter Bio:

John Chrastka is co-founder and executive director of EveryLibrary, the only national political action committee for libraries, and the EveryLibrary Institute, a public policy and tax policy think tank for libraries. Since 2012, EveryLibrary has supported public libraries in numerous funding negotiations with elected officials and on 220 election days to help to secure over $1.8 billion dollars in stable tax money for libraries. The EveryLibrary Institute publishes funding-focused research and recently hosted the Library Advocacy and Funding Conference as a key part of its training agenda.