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Looking Back: Advocacy 2024
Diving Into The 2024 Legislative Session
The Session Is In Full Swing!
👉 Jump to Info About Protecting School Libraries
eBooks
The Government Administration & Elections Committee (GAE) has introduced House Bill 5312: An Act Making Certain Terms in Electronic Book and Digital Audiobook License Agreements or Contracts Unenforceable. It is essentially the same bill as what Planning & Development Committee (P&D) previously introduced during this session: Senate Bill 148: An Act Making Certain Terms in Electronic Book and Digital Audiobook License Agreements or Contracts Unenforceable.
GAE heard testimony about HB 5312 on Tuesday, March 4th, and P&D heard testimony about SB 148 on Wednesday, February 21st, with an overwhelmingly positive response from library supporters throughout Connecticut! Find out what others are saying in support of library eBooks:
- SB 148: Watch the recording of the P&D public hearing
- SB 148: Read written testimony
- HB 5312: Watch the recording of the GAE public hearing
- HB 5312: Read written testimony
Last year, legislation was reintroduced to set fair terms & fair pricing for library eBooks & downloadable audiobooks. We are encouraged and excited to work with our legislative champions on the legislation again this year (via identical bills SB 148 and HB 5312) and looking forward to spreading the word and educating more decision-makers across the state.
If you submitted testimony last year, there is still time for you to dust off your letters, update your stats, & share new stories! Spread the word far and wide: reach out to your boards, Friends groups, and patrons and ask for their support. And please, ask your own local legislators to support, or even co-sponsor, these new bills!
YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED
We still need people from all over the state to send letters to local legislators asking them to support this legislation!
Write letters to your Local Legislators
It's very important to spread the word far and wide this year! The more supporters and co-sponsors who sign onto this bill, the better. Remember, library workers and legislators are on the same side. We serve Connecticut's communities - Connecticut's taxpayers. We're all working to serve their best interests!
Ready to write a letter? Check out our templates first!
Get some inspiration and tips to help you highlight what's most important to you about this legislation, and why. Personal stories are the most impactful!
Guidance & Inspiration
TALKING POINTS
Get the facts and familiarize yourself with talking points to help you highlight what's important to you about this eBook legislation, and why:
If you have patrons, library board members, or Friends who love eBooks and eAudiobooks, please encourage them to submit written support of the bill. Urge them to share their frustration with long waiting times, missing books in long-running series, books that disappear, etc. Ask them to share how valuable e-content is to them/their families.
More Background
Broaden your understanding of the issues at play by watching a recording of our eBook info session breaking down the essentials:
Spread the word far & wide by printing and sharing our one-sheet! Be sure to print double-sided, and select page 1 for the front, and then choose page 2, 3, or 4 for the reverse, depending on your audience.
Template Letters & Testimony
Check out these handy templates for writing letters to your legislators, and for written and spoken testimony. (Pay close attention to highlighted sections for instructions, and remember: the intent is to share personal stories, not cookie-cutter testimony/letters!)
Be inspired by 2023's supportive testimony.
Take a peek at how supporters handled testimony in 2022.
Above all: Always tell YOUR story! Calling or writing to your local legislators is a fantastic opportunity to tell them about how an issue affects you, your organization, your patrons, your children, your community. Personal stories have the most impact, and are far more important than spouting statistics and rehashing the language of suggested talking points.
In 2022 when the eBook bill was first raised, legislators heard from us that this was an issue that they should pay attention to. In 2023, we spread the word and gained several champions who understand the issues libraries are facing and want to break down those barriers. This year, 2024, we need to educate even more decision-makers, and spread the word even further so that everyone has a better understanding of why this legislation is so important.
Thank you for your support!
More background info
A new bill was introduced during 2023's legislative session that would have ensured fair terms and fair pricing for library eBooks & downloadable audiobooks.
The goals? Fair pricing. No more expiration dates. Focused on contract law.
- Publishers can make money.
- Libraries can build robust digital collections.
- Taxpayers won't be overcharged.
It's a win-win-win - but we need YOUR help to get there!
In 2023, we worked with members of the Connecticut General Assembly's Planning & Development Committee as well as with members of the Government, Administration, and Elections Committee to advance a bill on this subject.
Unfortunately, the bill died on the House floor during the final day of the legislative session.
However, we are still incredibly encouraged by just how far this legislation has advanced - and in such a relatively short time! We are heartened and excited to work with our legislative champions again to reintroduce this legislation during the 2024 session, and looking forward to spreading the word and educating more decision-makers across the state.
Can you offer testimony during a public hearing? Excited about the cause but not sure where to begin? Get in touch with CLA! It's so crucial for us to drive home how important our work is. We can work with you on ways you can advocate, testimony talking points, and help coordinate scheduling.
Reach out to Legislative Committee co-chairs Olivia Blake & Kate Byroade.
Let's work together to get a big win for 2024!
School Libraries
The Education Committee has introduced House Bill 5417: An Act Concerning Public School Libraries. In essence, HB 5417 would require transparency from Boards of Education if they remove books from school libraries, and would prohibit removal due to partisan politics, race, religion, gender, and sexuality.
YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED
We need people to sign up to testify—especially school librarians, teachers, parents, and residents of the districts of members of the Education Committee. (Note: to view members, click the "Committee Membership" heading just beneath the committee description, near the top of the page.)
We also need people from all over the state to email letters and submit written testimony in support of the bill.
HERE’S WHAT TO DO NOW
HB 5417 (Education Committee)
Sign Up by 3 PM on Sunday, March 10 to testify on Monday, March 11 at 10 AM. Here’s the link:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hEOmarQmRAOSEQabktXu9Q#/registration
Submit Written Testimony by 5 PM on Monday, March 11.
Here’s the link: https://www.cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGATestimonySub/CGAtestimonysubmission.aspx?comm_code=ED
GUIDE TO TESTIMONY NEXT STEPS
Remote & In-Person Testimony:
When filling out the form, pay special attention to these questions!
- Do you represent a State Agency or Municipal Entity?
- NO - this is reserved for elected officials.
- Indicate below whether you plan to testify In Person at the Legislative Office Building or Remotely via Zoom (ALL registrants will receive an email containing the Zoom link and confirmation of signup)
- CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED OPTION
- If you need to switch from Zoom to in-person or vice versa, you may do so at any time. You will receive the Zoom link either way, and you can show up at the LOB without notice (although it would be courteous to let them know by emailing the clerk in advance).
Speaker order of approved registrants will be posted on the Education Committee website at 6 PM on Sunday, March 10, under Public Hearing Testimony.
Written Testimony:
- Visit: https://www.cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGATestimonySub/CGAtestimonysubmission.aspx?comm_code=ED
- Select the 3/11/24 10:00:00 AM hearing from the hearing date & time dropdown.
- Choose HB05714 - AAC PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES from the list of bills.
- Make sure you fill out all of the necessary fields, including selecting the “Support” radio button.
- Upload your testimony as a PDF file.
- Complete the “captcha” on the form.
- When you submit the form, make sure you click through all confirmation messages until you get an acknowledgement of submission.
Above the salutation of the letter, please write: H.B. No. 5417 AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARIES - SUPPORT.
Write letters to your Local Legislators
It's very important to spread the word far and wide! The more supporters and co-sponsors who sign onto this bill, the better. Remember, school librarians and legislators are on the same side, and want what is best for Connecticut students!
Ready to write a letter? Check out our templates first!
Get some inspiration and tips to help you highlight what's most important to you about this legislation, and why. Personal stories are the most impactful!
Advocating For Libraries
Want to hear the latest and be ready to act?
To get a sense of the legislative process, learn how a bill becomes a law in CT. Your legislators need to hear from you!
By contacting your own legislators, you can make your voice heard. You can also encourage friends, family, coworkers and patrons to get involved. Learn about the issues facing libraries and their patrons, then get in touch with your legislators and let them know what is important to you. Inform others and encourage them to take action, too.
Media is alive and well! Writing an op-ed, by yourself or as a team, can be an easy way to speak up. Connecticut has many news media outlets where you can send your writing.
Don't miss the CT General Assembly's guide on giving testimony!
