This week, May 10-14, 2021 marks United for Infrastructure Week. As advocates across the country utilize this week to communicate the importance of infrastructure in our communities, this presents a wonderful opportunity for you to share your library's personal story to amplify the need for library facilities to be fairly recognized as a critical part of our nation's infrastructure.
Over the next few weeks, Congress is tasked to make key decisions about the scope of what will be included in President Biden's final infrastructure package. The Build America's Libraries Act, introduced in the Senate and House by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), and Representatives Andy Levin (D-MI) and Don Young (R-AK), respectively, makes the case for providing $5 billion to repair, modernize, and construct library facilities in underserved and marginalized communities. If these funding levels were included in the final infrastructure package, upgrades to the nation's library infrastructure to address challenges such as natural disasters, COVID-19, broadband capacity, environmental hazards, and accessibility barriers would be supported.
How can you Take Action this week?
As United for Infrastructure Week commences, ALA has provided you with special templates and resources hosted on the Build America's Libraries homepage to celebrate the week and to communicate to lawmakers the urgency for libraries to be included in the infrastructure package. In addition to contacting President Biden and Congress through ALA's Action Center, we are encouraging advocates to utilize this week by posting to social media about the infrastructure needs at your library, and/or highlighting the critical role your library plays in the community.
- Use this informative template on how to craft compelling social media posts.
- The example Tweet below from Blue Island Library in Illinois shows one impactful way to illustrate the need for this designated funding for infrastructure upgrades in your library.
Be sure to follow @LibraryPolicy on Twitter to keep up with this week's happenings and stay up-to-date on this important campaign.
Thank you so much for your continued advocacy,
ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Team