Advocacy Committee

Free People Read Freely®

ALA Freedom to Read Statement

ALA Freedom to View Statement

What does advocacy mean? 

The AzLA Advocacy committee's foundational commitment is to advocate for good library representation and input at the local, state and national levels. We wish to clarify assumptions made about libraries, library workers, and library organizations and to help our members find their place on the advocacy spectrum. Advocacy can range from basic awareness to actionable activities, with many opportunities along the continuum.

Want to get involved? 

1. Become a member of the AzLA Advocacy Committee 

Your contributions can help shape the committee and the work that we can do in the future. 

Please fill out our Expression of Interest form and we will follow up with you (you must be an AzLA member)

2.  Learn about bills targeting Arizona libraries, library workers, and adjacent issues that could potentially impact libraries.

3.  Explore additional resources about intellectual freedom 

4.  Useful toolkits

• Intellectual Freedom Resource Toolkit - Association of Illinois School Library Educators
• Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, & Academic Libraries
• United Against Book Bans Action Toolkit

Report Challenges 

ALA collects censorship and challenge data, including materials challenges, internet-related challenges, library service challenges, patron privacy or confidentiality challenges, hate crimes, threats or harassment to staff, legislative concerns, or any other challenge or issue. 

Report censorship to ALA 

What's happening with Government Documents & Information?

Updates on the removal of government data from federal webpages & resources:

• Federal Government Information timeline from Kelly Smith, UC San Diego
• Tracking Government Information from the University of Minnesota
• Data Rescue Project
• Free Government Information project (FGI)

About us

The Advocacy Committee works to support libraries across Arizona by affecting federal, state, and local legislative decision making. Members of the committee liaise with a lobbyist who works in the Arizona Legislature to promote bills that are good for libraries, and oppose those that would be detrimental. Members of the committee champion grassroots advocacy efforts around the state. As a member chapter of the American Library Association, the committee also advocates for federal legislation that furthers the work of libraries across the country.