Public libraries face no shortage of challenges today. Ongoing censorship efforts, increasing threats to staff safety, growing public distrust of institutions, and rapid technological change continue to reshape the work of libraries and the people who sustain them. In this environment, advocacy matters more than ever.
That message came through clearly at the 2026 Public Library Association conference, where many sessions focused on helping librarians strengthen their advocacy skills. At the heart of every library are the workers who understand its value best and are often its strongest advocates.
One session I attended, “Advocacy at the Core of ALA’s Next 150 Years,” featured Sam Helmick, Maria McCauley, Daniel Montgomery, and Lisa Varga. The panel offered practical strategies for advocacy, including using easy digital tools to contact legislators, participating in National Library Legislative Day, supporting legislation such as the Right to Read Act, and inviting elected officials into library spaces to see the work firsthand.
Another standout session, “Advocacy Strategies for Getting Things Done,” featured Lisa Wells, Amanda Kordeliski, Tim Miller, Gail Oehler, and Kelly Sitzman from libraries across Oklahoma. Their discussion focused on the power of quiet advocacy.
Quiet advocacy means building relationships with legislators before you urgently need their support. It means finding common ground, even when political differences exist, and maintaining consistent communication over time. The panel emphasized the importance of shared messaging across public, school, academic, and special libraries so policymakers hear a unified story. In that sense, advocacy for one library becomes advocacy for all libraries.
The panelists also offered practical advice: stay focused on the library’s goals, use language that resonates with policymakers, remember the importance of legislative staff, and prepare concise leave-behind materials with key takeaways.
Finding the balance between daily responsibilities and advocacy can be difficult. Some might argue that advocacy is simply part of being a librarian, but that framing can overlook just how much the profession has expanded.
Today, librarians often serve on the front lines of community care. We connect patrons with mental health resources, help people navigate digital tools and databases, support families and educators, and create spaces of belonging and learning. We do far more than most job descriptions can capture.
Because of that, I came away believing that some of the most effective advocacy happens when we make invisible work visible.
That does not always require large campaigns or formal testimony. Sometimes advocacy can be as simple as inviting legislators to the library for a breakfast meeting or a short tour. Small, consistent opportunities to witness library work can help decision-makers better understand the essential role libraries play in their communities.
I left PLA 2026 with a renewed appreciation for advocacy, not as something separate from library work, but as an extension of it. The more clearly we communicate the value of what we do, the better equipped we are to protect and strengthen public libraries for the future.
I am deeply grateful for the scholarship that made it possible for me to attend PLA 2026. It was both a privilege and a joy to learn alongside so many dedicated library workers.
Tags: pla2026scholarship
