TN Libraries and Library friends,

I had the great opportunity to attend ALA’s Advocacy Fly-in Feb 24-26, and I wanted to share the details of my meetings with you so you know the familiarity level these officials have regarding TN libraries.

Below you will see a summary of my meetings and excerpts from the Thank You emails I sent.

Please remember we have TN Library Legislative Day on March 12th in Nashville. If you haven’t already made appointments with your legislators, you can find their contact information at the following link: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/fmlv3/districts.aspx

You may register for TN Legislative day here: https://www.tnla.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1193148

I cannot stress to you how important it is to build relationships with your legislators. If you wait until you need something from them, or until you’re in a crisis, it is already too late. PLEASE take this opportunity to visit your state officials and begin creating a relationship with them.

As always, if you need anything, please ask!

In your service,

Sharon Kay Edwards

Senators Alexander & Blackburn Meeting:

I met them at the weekly constituent coffee, TN Tuesday. I was able to get a photo and talked briefly about who I was representing and that they have “fantastic” libraries in TN. I then talked about ALA’s resolution in Alexander’s honor to thank him for his help in passing the Library and Museum Services Reauthorization Act. I told them both that I would be giving more information in detail to their staff.

After the photo opp, I met for a much longer time with staffers from both offices. I hand delivered ALA’s resolution to thank Senator Alexander to Alexander's Education staffer.

I have followed up with a thank you email. Here’s an excerpt from the one to Alexander. The email to Blackburn's office was the same, minus the ALA resolution bit:

“It was such a pleasure to see the smile on your face when I told you the American Library Association had issued a proclamation thanking you for your valued support in the passage of the Museum and Library Services Reauthorization Act in 2018.   

After the photo opp, I met with your staff and discussed the importance of federal funding for libraries and the modest, but critically needed investment of the authorized $232 million for LSTA.

As we talked, I gave them a LOT of information on Tennessee's libraries—how Tennessee is third in the nation in ebook and audiobook checkouts, how the Tennessee Electronic Library is the only source of credible information and databases for most of Tennessee's K-12 students, and how Tennessee libraries have hosted over 80,000 programs of all kinds for all ages, (including many aimed at helping veterans transition into civilian life or deal with PTSD.) “

Overall, while I had a brief meeting with the senators themselves, I got the feeling they were supportive of Libraries and the staff was very interested in what all we are doing in TN.

Congressman DesJarlais Meeting:

I began the meeting discussing what TN does with IMLS funding (using the handout the TSLA provided for our state Leg Day)  with two staffers. After a few minutes, the congressman walked in. ( I was NOT scheduled to meet with him, just the staff)

I began to quickly catch him up on on the info when he stopped me after I mentioned the READS program. He asked me to help him download audiobooks for his commute from DC to TN. He offered me his iPhone and I showed him how to download Libby.

Turns out, he doesn't have a library card, so I gave him my library card number from when I worked at Fayetteville Lincoln Co. (Fayetteville doesn't require a PW for READS, so it's easier to show how to log in)

Since he is using my card, I took my phone out and showed him as I deleted the Libby app from my phone so he could use it in privacy—then, I explained how librarians guard patron privacy.

"Oh, I won't be reading anything you shouldn't see," he said

"But you have a right to privacy!" I said emphatically.

He looked at me as if I gave him a gift. For a moment, I thought about what it must be like to be a political figure in these divisive times, and how little privacy he, and others, actually have.

After this, he took me into his office so I could give him a tour of the TN electronic library on his computer. I showed him TERC because we had discussed the practice tests and resume builder. Then he created an account to look at the Resume creation there for his son, Tyler.

Y'all—It was just like a patron interaction at the library! I literally became his on-site librarian. It was a weird, but affirming experience.

We met for an hour..30 minutes longer than I was scheduled, and I could tell he and his staff would have liked to learn more about what we do in TN Libraries and what all TEL has to offer.

Here is an excerpt from the thank you email I sent his office:

“Of every library advocacy meeting I've had over the past couple of years, this one had to be the most enjoyable and fun. I've never seen a representative be so engaged in our public services to their constituents, and I really appreciate your enthusiasm. Also, I really hope you're able to enjoy the ebook and audiobook program.

I know I gave you and your staff a LOT of information on Tennessee's libraries—how Tennessee is third in the nation in ebook and audiobook checkouts, how the Tennessee Electronic Library is the only source of credible information and databases for most of Tennessee's K-12 students, and how Tennessee libraries have hosted over 80,000 programs of all kinds for all ages, (including many aimed at helping veterans transition into civilian life or deal with PTSD. ) If you need clarification on any of these data points or want additional information, please reach out!

Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me. The Tennessee Library Association looks forward to working with you and your staff in the future. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or if I can be of any service to you. (You have an entire state filled with librarians at your researching disposal!)

Oh! I have already reached out to libraries in the fourth district to get you a library card. I'll be in touch soon with what I learn.”

I have emailed the Regional Library directors in his district and think it would be SO COOL if we could get him a library card from each library in his district and send a big ole care package with library cards, bookmarks, totes, newsletters, flyers, TEL printouts...everything we can think of from the libraries in his district. So, I’m working on this now.

Congressman Fleischmann Meeting:

I met with Legislative Staffer, Holly Hendrix, who was very responsive and interested in all the programs libraries offer, particularly in having Chattanooga's famed fourth floor in the 3rd district. She didn't know what a Makerspace was, so I told her what all the Chattanooga library has in it's Makerspace. I then talked with her about the impact libraries have on digital literacy by offering, not just WiFi, computers, hotspots, and tablet devices, but by teaching patrons—individually and in classes— digital skills from protecting their online privacy to Google drive workshops to helping people set up their first email.

(I shared with her an anecdotal story where I sat with a patron who'd been laid off from the only job they'd known. She didn't have an email, and the Staffing Solutions Place sent her to the library to apply online. So I helped her do all of that and she had a job two weeks later)

Here is an excerpt from the email I sent:

I know we gave Holly a LOT of information on Tennessee's libraries—how Tennessee is third in the nation in ebook and audiobook checkouts, how the Tennessee Electronic Library is the only source of credible information and databases for most of Tennessee's K-12 students, and how Tennessee libraries have hosted over 80,000 programs of all kinds for all ages, (including many aimed at helping veterans transition into civilian life or deal with PTSD.) We also talked about the shining star that is Chattanooga Public Library, the importance of librarians in teaching digital literacy classes, and how important rural broadband is. If you need clarification on any of these data points or want additional information, please reach out!

Thank you again for taking the time to meet with us. The Tennessee Library Association looks forward to working with you and your staff in the future. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or if I can be of any service to you. (You have an entire state filled with librarians at your researching disposal!)

Oh! I have already reached out to Chattanooga Public Library about a possible visit to their famed 4th floor Makerspace. I'll either send a follow-up email with what I've learned or send an introduction email CC'ing the Director or her assistant.