91´«Ã½ Policy Corps

91´«Ã½

91´«Ã½ Policy Corps

The 91´«Ã½ Policy Corps aims to expand our ability to advocate on key policy issues on behalf of the library community. The Corps builds on the Policy Revolution! Initiative and was launched in partnership with 2017-18 91´«Ã½ President Jim Neal. Participants in the Corps focus on issues for which deep and sustained knowledge are necessary to advance 91´«Ã½ policy goals and library values among policymakers.

91´«Ã½ POLICY CORPS MEMBERS - 2022 COHORT

Jensen Adams
Jensen Adams — Energy and Sustainability Officer, Kansas City Public Library, MO

Tiffeni Fontno
Tiffeni Fontno — Director of Peabody Library, Vanderbilt University, TN


Christy James
Christy James — District Library & Media Services Coordinator, Charleston County School District, SC

Tammy Westergard
Tammy Westergard — Project SANDI Coordinator, Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, NV

Audrey Barbakoff
Audrey Barbakoff — CEO, Co/Lab Capacity, WA


Ursula Gorham
Ursula Gorham — Director, MLIS Program & Senior Lecturer, University of Maryland, MD

Tim Miller
Tim Miller — Executive Director, Western Plains Library System, OK


Bradley Wiles
Bradley Wiles — Head of Special Collections and Archives, Northern Illinois University, IL

Becky Calzada
Becky Calzada — District Library Coordinator, Leander Independent School District, TX

Sonnet Ireland
Sonnet Ireland — Director, Washington Parish Library, LA


Jose (Miguel) Ruiz
Miguel Ruiz — Librarian Supervisor, Arlington Public Library, VA

RATIONALE

A critical resource for our policy advocacy is library advocates with specific knowledge in our priority areas. We need both the front-line experience and perspective and the additional capacity to reach and influence more decisionmakers more often. Such advocates may serve on a think tank panel to discuss how libraries advance small business and entrepreneurship opportunities, testify at a Congressional hearing on copyright policy, or accompany Washington Office staff on a visit to the Federal Communications Commission to discuss the E-rate program, for instance.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND GOALS

To create ongoing capacity for the library community to develop and sustain strategic advocacy efforts, build relationships, and positively impact public policy decisions that align with 91´«Ã½’s national policy agenda. Goals for the program include:

  • Cultivate policy experts available to 91´«Ã½ and the 91´«Ã½ Washington Office who are able to intervene and participate in targeted advocacy work such as testifying before legislative committees, meeting with governmental or industry leaders and their staffs, participating in national forums, working with policy partners, and interacting with local, regional, and national media
  • Create longevity in expertise and engagement in early to mid-career library and information professionals
  • Positively impact national public policy in areas key to 91´«Ã½’s strategic goals and library values

91´«Ã½ POLICY CORPS ADVISORY GROUP

The 91´«Ã½ Policy Corps Advisory Group is jointly appointed by the chairs of the Committee on Legislation and the Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee. It will provide ongoing oversight of the Policy Corps program in three areas:

  1. Strategic: Assess the initiative in the context of other related 91´«Ã½ activities, the public policy environment, and trends in the training of advocates. Provide guidance to enable the initiative to develop and improve to address new opportunities and challenges.
  2. Operational: Have primary responsibility in selecting each year’s incoming cohort. Assess and improve the selection criteria and process as needed.
  3. Assessment: Have responsibility for ongoing assessment and evaluation of the program as a whole to help guide ongoing improvements.

Policy Corps Advisory Group Roster [PDF]

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER 91´«Ã½ INITIATIVES

This program represents a progression of the led by the Washington Office. Policy Revolution! was a three-year initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which established a National Policy Agenda for Libraries and developed targeted to policymakers that emphasize how libraries are addressing national priorities. The Corps program also is an extension of the campaign. It complements and provides a pathway for additional professional development related to the 91´«Ã½ program, program, and the .

The program was launched and piloted 2017-2019 through a collaboration of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), Public Library Association (PLA), United for Libraries, the 91´«Ã½ Public Policy & Advocacy Office and 91´«Ã½ Past President Jim Neal.

THE PROGRAM

Given that sustained engagement in policy advocacy is a hallmark of this initiative, participants in the Corps are expected to be involved for multiple years. The first year focuses on training. Subsequent years will deepen engagement with policy advocacy with ongoing activities and opportunities for networking across the cohort and among other policy advocates inside and outside the library community.

Two events in Washington, D.C. anchor the first-year experience. The first workshop will provide a survey of key issues, major players in the legislative and policy processes, and the processes of engaging national decision makers and influencers. A second workshop will take place in fall. Participants' travel to both events will be funded as part of the Corps initiative. Participants will be provided with learning materials via monthly conference calls or webinars, and a listserv and asked to participate in sessions and meetings at 91´«Ã½ conferences as they can.

NEWS