As in the past (2002-2008), the Bonds for Libraries Political Action Committee has raised funds to make and distribute publicity – printed informational material, yard signs, newspaper and radio ads, etc. – to encourage voters to approve the bond. However, this year the economic downturn has affected the amount of donations we have received to promote Bond B; about 75% less than in previous bond election efforts. In response, we have developed a three part campaign strategy: (1) we have established an easy-to-navigate website: www.bondsforlibraries.org and a Facebook page: “Bonds for Libraries”; (2) we have designed downloadable printable materials: bookmark, brochure, and bumper stickers, which are on the website, and which we will print and distribute to donors; and (3) we have developed a packet of materials to encourage and guide local community leadership to publicize Bond B, called the “Bond B Media Kit.”
The kit contains (below):
Radio spots in English and Spanish
Samples of Letter to the Editor, “Op Ed”, Local and Statewide Resolutions, Letter to Community Groups
Please feel free to adapt these materials to the needs of your own area/community.
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Click here for the Radio Spot in English Click here for the Radio Spot in Spanish
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Letter No. 1: Sample letter to the editor of your area newspaper
Note: Small newspapers tend to want short letters. This sample is 155 words (in the content), but you can adapt it to fit your community and newspaper requirements. Go to the www.bondsforlibraries.org website for more data.
Date
To the Editor:
We use our libraries at a tremendous rate. On an average day in 2009, New Mexico’s public libraries served 25,400; public college libraries served 22,857 and 850+ school libraries served tens of thousands of K-12 students daily. Our libraries are a lifeline in these troubled times. Not only job applications, but even new federal health care applications may be completed online. Those library computers stay hot!
Ironically, as library use increases dramatically, library funding is shrinking. In our state, despite expanding information needs, many libraries are facing reduced hours and cuts in materials and staffing.
We have an opportunity to reduce the erosion of these invaluable community resources by voting for Bond B (“Bonds for Libraries”). If it passes, $7 million will go to public, school, tribal, college and university libraries to update their collections, equipment and databases.
Please vote Yes for Bond B on November 2!
Name
Position/Affiliation if desirable
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Letter No. 2: Sample letter following up on another article in your area newspaper (relate your letter to a previous item if you can, indicating you read that paper regularly).
Note: Small newspapers tend to want short letters. This sample is 154 words (in the content), but you can adapt it to fit your community and newspaper requirements. Go to the www.bondsforlibraries.org website for more data.
Date
To the Editor:
In the July 12 commentary, “Public libraries: We lose them at our peril,” Marilyn Johnson pointed out the irony of nationwide library use increasing dramatically at a time when library funding is being reduced. In New Mexico, despite expanding information needs, many libraries face reduced hours and cuts in materials and staffing.
Now we have an opportunity to reduce the erosion of these invaluable community resources by passing Bond B (“Bonds for Libraries”). If Bond B passes, $7 million will be distributed to public, school, tribal, college and university libraries to update their collections, equipment and databases.
We use libraries at a tremendous rate. On an average day in 2009, New Mexico’s public libraries served 25,400; public college libraries served 22,857 and 850+ school libraries served tens of thousands of K-12 students daily. Our libraries are a lifeline in these troubled economic times!
Please vote Yes for Bond B on November 2!
Name
Position
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Op Ed Sample
Libraries change lives! More than ever, they need your support.
On November 2, voters will decide on state General Obligation Bond B, which, if approved, will provide $7 million for all publicly-funded libraries in New Mexico to purchase books, reference materials, media, software and equipment, etc. This includes local public, tribal, school, college and university libraries.
Bond B is important to everyone in our state, because it will help libraries to acquire the materials and tools they need to effectively serve communities throughout our state. In New Mexico, we use libraries at a tremendous rate. On an average day in 2009, New Mexico’s public libraries served 25,400 people; public college libraries served 22,857; and more than 850 school libraries served tens of thousands of K-12 students. Our libraries are a lifeline in these troubled economic times for people without home computers..
Ironically, as public institutions face challenging budgets, library funding is often among the first items to be cut. In the July 12, 2010 commentary in the Santa Fe New Mexican (“Public libraries: We lose them at our peril”), Marilyn Johnson pointed out the paradox of nationwide library use increasing dramatically at a time when library funding is shrinking. In New Mexico, despite expanding information needs, many libraries are facing reduced hours and cuts in materials and staffing.
The funding provided by the passage of Bond B is vital to our libraries, because it will help to provide the resources to continue to serve the people of New Mexico and to improve that service. In schools, access to quality library resources has been shown to improve student achievement. Twenty years of research shows that quality school libraries inspire literacy in learners from kindergarten through high school. Tribal public libraries serve as information centers to tribal members of all ages, providing a cultural resource – classes and materials in their native languages. New Mexico’s public college and university libraries provide 24/7 access to library information resources for all campus- and distance-learning students, faculty and staff. GO bonds have provided up to 25% of college and university library materials. Local public libraries provide information and resources in many forms, including computer access for nearly 6,500 New Mexicans daily. Our libraries are places where you can read, write, study, research, learn, compute, surf and be entertained!
The approval of Bond B in November is essential for all of our local public, tribal, school and college and university libraries. Vote yes on Bond B!
Name
Position/Affiliation
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Sample Local Resolution in Support of Bond B. Funding for Libraries
Whereas, effective public school libraries are critical for student achievement, inspiring and nurturing literacy and ensuring equal access to information for all students; and
Whereas, city, county and tribal public libraries provide vital cultural, informational and economic resources for New Mexico communities, especially during the current economic crisis, providing free access to computers and internet sources which enable job-seekers to prepare resumes and post job applications, and
Whereas, college libraries are essential parts of a full academic education, providing 24/7 access to information resources and instruction both on-campus and long-distance, and serving as an important factor in college program accreditation; and
Whereas, the demand for library resources continues to rise while the cost of providing the resources is beyond local funding capacity; and
Whereas, publicly-funded libraries have increased their effectiveness by sharing their resources electronically, enabling public, school and college libraries to coordinate the use of scarce library funds within the community and statewide; and
Whereas, these publicly-funded institutions provide the foundation for economic, cultural and educational growth of our citizens and it is imperative that they maintain quality programs and services; and
Whereas, the New Mexico Legislature placed general obligation bond issue B on the November ballot to raise $ 7.1 million to make expenditures for academic, public school, tribal and public library acquisitions;
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the ________________________________ endorses State Bond Issue B on the November 2, 2010 general election, and urges board members to encourage voters in our community to support and vote for State Bond B.
______________________.
(Signature)
_________________________
(Position)
_________________________
(Date)
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Sample Statewide Resolution in Support of Bond B. Funding for Libraries
Whereas, effective public school libraries are critical for student achievement, inspiring and nurturing literacy and ensuring equal access to information for all students; and
Whereas, city, county and tribal public libraries provide vital cultural, informational and economic resources for New Mexico communities, especially during the current economic crisis, providing free access to computers and internet sources which enable job-seekers to prepare resumes and post job applications, and
Whereas, college libraries are essential parts of a full academic education, providing 24/7 access to information resources and instruction both on-campus and long-distance, and serving as an important factor in college program accreditation; and
Whereas, the demand for library resources continues to rise while the cost of providing the resources is beyond local funding capacity; and
Whereas, publicly funded libraries have increased their effectiveness by sharing their resources electronically, enabling public, school and college libraries to coordinate the use of scarce library funds within the community and statewide; and
Whereas, these publicly-funded institutions provide the foundation for economic, cultural and educational growth of our citizens and it is imperative that they maintain quality programs and services; and
Whereas, the New Mexico Legislature placed general obligation bond issue B on the November ballot to raise $ 7 million to make expenditures for academic, public school, tribal and public library acquisitions;
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the _________________________________ endorses State Bond Issue B on the November 2, 2010 general election, and urges all members of
_________________________________ statewide to encourage their communities to support and vote for State Bond B.
_________________________
(Signature)
_________________________
(Position)
_________________________
(Date)
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Sample Letter to a Community Group (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.):
Note: Feel free to adapt this letter as you see fit to be relevant to your local organizations.
Date
To: Leader
Community Group
Address
Dear _________:
I am writing to ask for your support to help pass Bond B on the November New Mexico ballot. Bond B will provide $7 million for new materials for public, school, tribal and public college and university libraries in New Mexico. These funds are not just for books and media; they also support community internet access and databases, which are increasingly necessary for information, literacy, health care and economic opportunity.
I know the ________ group is committed to the well-being of our community. Will you join with us as a partner to help pass Bond B on November 2?
Bond B will cost taxpayers only 45 cents per $100,000 of assessed property value. This tiny investment will enable our libraries to continue to support and revitalize our communities. In our local area, [name] County, will receive approximately $ _____ if Bond B is passed. Specifically, this vote will provide $__ to [name] city and county public libraries, $ ____ to _[name]_ tribal libraries, _$_ to _[name]_district school libraries, and _$__to [name] college/university libraries. [To the letter writer: If you use this sentence, apply the projections posted on the www.bondsforlibraries.org website to fill in these amounts and names.]
Local funding for library resources has declined over the past decade, both in real numbers and accounting for inflation. Ironically, while funding is diminishing, our libraries are seeing huge increases in use. For example, as we struggle through a historic recession, 169 million Americans are using their public libraries, and nearly one third of the U.S. population over age 14 are regularly using library computers. Libraries are an economic lifeline for our community, and especially for people without home computer access!
Again, we hope you will join us in supporting Bond B for our libraries.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
Name
Position
Contact Information