On Feb. 3, nearly 1,000 library advocates from across New York State gathered in Albany for the New York Library Association’s (NYLA) Library Advocacy Day. The event was led by Ginger Tebo, St. Lawrence‑Lewis BOCES’ School Library System Director and brought together representatives from a wide range of library types to meet with legislators and advocate for critical library funding and policy priorities.
In her role as current President of NYLA, Ginger led the rally held in The Well at the Legislative Office Building and introduced the event’s featured speakers, New York State Sen. Siela Bynoe, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Libraries, and New York State Sen. Dean Murray, Ranking Member of the committee.
Throughout the day, library advocates met with lawmakers to promote key legislative priorities, including Library Operations Aid, which supports school library systems, increased Library Materials Aid for schools and passage of the Freedom to Read Act and Open Shelves Act, legislation aimed at promoting intellectual freedom in New York.
This year, Ginger represented school libraries and school library systems in meetings with Sen. Mark Walczyk (49th District), Assemblyman Scott Gray (116th District), and Assemblyman Michael Cashman (115th District).
Later this month, she will continue this advocacy work at the American Library Association’s National Library Legislative Day on Feb. 26 in Washington, D.C., where she will lead 16 members of the New York delegation in advocacy planning and legislative meetings alongside NYLA Director of Government Relations Max Prime.