Advancing advocacy: ALA's newest office is the next big step.(Executive Director's Message)

On September 4, ALA established the new Office for Library Advocacy (OLA). We all know that advocacy has been the number one member priority for more than a decade. But what will the new office do? How will it fit in with all the other advocacy efforts within the association?

First, the office will focus new energy on a huge, unmet need: developing resources, training, and peer-to-peer networks that will help local advocates achieve their advocacy goals for libraries of all types. These may include making the case for increased funding, new and expanded buildings, new technology, bond votes and referenda, or fighting budget reductions, elimination of school librarians, or …