Each year, the ACRL Government Relations Committee, in consultation with the ACRL Board of Directors and staff, formulates an ACRL Legislative Agenda. Drafted with input from key ACRL committees, ACRL leaders, and the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, the ACRL Legislative Agenda is prioritized and focuses on issues at the national level affecting the welfare of academic and research libraries. The ACRL Board of Directors recently approved the 2020 ACRL Legislative Agenda.
The 2020 ACRL Legislative Agenda focuses on four issues that the U.S. Congress has recently taken, or will most likely take, action on in the year ahead: Federal Funding for Libraries, Net Neutrality, Affordable College Textbook Act, and Consumer Data Privacy. The agenda also includes a watch list of policy issues of great concern to academic librarians but where there is no pending legislation. Issues on the watch list are: Public Access to Federally Funded Research, Federal Depository Library Program Modernization Act, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals/Immigration Issues.
Although ALA has cancelled the in person portion of National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) 2020 in Washington, D.C., details about virtual advocacy opportunities will be shared on the NLLD webpage. In addition to offering a robust digital campaign, other options may be arranged such as meeting with congressional offices virtually as their schedules allow. Questions? Contact NLLD@alawash.org.