“Bonds for Libraries” is a New Mexico political action committee (PAC) assisting librarians and library supporters to pass a statewide GO Bond in 2010.
Librarians have learned from past general obligation (GO) bond issue campaigns that a political action committee, duly registered with the Secretary of State’s Office, is a useful group for promoting passage of statewide GO bond issues. Using a website to provide detailed information about current and past bond issues for library resources, the PAC provides the kind of advocacy which publicly-supported librarians find problematic.
Unlike many conventional PACs, “Bonds for Libraries” does not contribute to individual legislators, have any employees, or adopt any partisan bias. Further, the PAC is not heavily engaged during the legislative session, leaving passage of the GO bond issue legislation to librarians.
Instead, an ad hoc Library GO Bond Steering Committee brings together academic, public, and school librarians for decision-making and creating strategies for passing the bond legislation and getting the governor to sign the bill which allows voters act upon in the November general election. The PAC officers sit in on Steering Committee meetings, attend legislative committee meetings and intensify fund raising efforts during this time leading up to the formal creation of the bond issue.
Upon the governor’s signature, the campaign for passing the bond issue begins in earnest. The PAC gathers data which librarians can use to inform their communities about the bond issue, especially the amount individual libraries can expect to receive if the bond issue passes, tax implications for property owners and any special conditions placed on the spending of the bond funds.
As in the past we will raise funds for printed informational material, yard signs, newspaper ads, and more, all to ask voters to approve the bonds.
Officers of “Bonds for Libraries”
Dr. David Giltrow (independent consultant), Omar Durant (retired from APS) are co-chairs. Dr. Kitty Sherlock (retired senior staff member PED) is vice-chair. Linda O’Connell (retired public librarian, former contract administrator NMLA) is secretary-treasurer. Joe Sabatini, Legislation Committee Co-Chair, is our NMLA liaison.