Onlookers could have mistaken the event for a classic political speech, with the clapping interrupting the president every few sentences, the almost-constant media flashbulbs, and the unbridled enthusiasm of the crowd, which included public, academic, and school librarians in addition to trustees and dignitaries.

This new campaign launches in the face of a dismal U.S. economy, which is affecting libraries perhaps even more than other organizations. Often viewed as nonessential services by lay people, libraries all over the country have, over the past couple years, been handed budget cuts like never before.

This sad phenomenon was clearly illustrated during the rally. After Freedman’s opening remarks, numerous librarians and patrons from all over the U.S., as well as heads of ALA divisions, went to a microphone to tell the stories of their own libraries’ fates. After each person spoke, he or she put a red mark on a large U.S. map to illustrate that the affected libraries really are all over the country. The crowd gasped and shook their heads as these participants related everything from cuts in collections budgets to staff layoffs to branch closings. One woman from Wisconsin lamented that she was only able to pre-order three copies of the forthcoming Harry Potter book for an eagerly awaiting fan club of 90 children. Budget cuts are especially hard on the poorest schools, which already have the poorest libraries, despite the fact that that’s already a proven recipe for low test scores. LITA President Pat Ensor won extra applause for crying out, “We’ve got to wake up our legislators!”

Then ALA President-Elect Carla Hayden made a short but powerful speech. She acknowledged that there were feelings of despair, “Yet I see the energy and the drive to Save America’s Libraries.” Finally then, she was the one to specify just what actions librarians could start to take:

• Get to know state legislators. Invite them and their aides to all your functions. (Don’t underestimate the importance of good relationships with the aides!) Create special awards for representatives who have been helpful and make a big deal of presenting them.
  
  
• Hold a local rally if you can. Or join some of the big ones that are already being organized for National Library Week.
  
  
• Work with the media. Make yourself known to them. Offer to help them find good stories anytime; don’t go to them only when you need their coverage.
  
  
• Don’t just sit there quietly, as many in this profession tend to do. “We have a right to mobilize,” Hayden said. “We don’t have to be quiet anymore!”

As part of this push to focus on the effects of library funding cuts, many speakers cited classic “sound bites” that anyone can use to get the message across quickly. One favorite is that Americans go to libraries more than twice as often as they go to movies. These facts and others are available from ALA. Memorizing just one or two and using them whenever possible is a simple way that you can join the fight right now.

To find out more about the campaign, contact the ALA Public Information Office in Chicago at 312/280-5043. The organization has also created a customizable toolkit that people can download from http://www.ala.org/pio/campaign_to_save_americas_libraries.html. And MLS will continue to cover the campaign. Any of you who take action are welcome to send me e-mail (kdempsey@infotoday.com) so that we can continue to share your success with MLS.