President's Report
October 18, 2002

Lately I've changed my tune about membership in NCLA. Heretofore when I would speak to a group of librarians I would talk about how you "should" belong to NCLA. I would talk about our illustrious history, our current activities, our nationally-recognized journal, our efforts to build community and the wonderful opportunities provided by our sections and round tables.

I'm not saying "you should" anymore. I'm saying "you must." If you value libraries, you "must" belong to NCLA, and here's why.

Two weeks ago, the Governor signed into law a budget that preserves the Aid to Public Libraries fund at $14.8 million - the level at which it was originally appropriated at the start of the 2001-2002 biennium. Most other state agencies and funds received a cut of at least eight percent; in the Department of Cultural Resources, State Aid was the only fund not slashed.

"You did this," was what our lobbyist, Ken Eudy of Capital Strategies, said when asked who was responsible for the against-all-odds legislative victory. His emphasis was on the "you" and "you" meant the North Carolina library community.

And community was what pulled it off. NCLA allied with the North Carolina Public Library Directors Association to hire Capital Strategies. Capital Strategies advised us on timing and message, and helped us strike a balance between too aggressive and not aggressive enough. Public Library directors, their trustees and other library supporters like Leland Park at Davidson College made key contacts with legislators at critical moments. State Librarian Sandy Cooper kept us informed about developments and shared the library community's position on issues with colleagues in the Department of Cultural Resources.

Now, North Carolina's library community has set a new precedent for action on behalf of libraries. Because of "us," library service in the state - especially service to residents in rural and poor areas - has received a shot in the arm during a very difficult time.

So now when I make a pitch for NCLA, I feel a bit like King Arthur at the end of the musical Camelot: "Ask every person if he's heard the story, and tell it loud and clear if he has not." Membership in NCLA and other allied groups is no longer an option. It's a necessity, an obligation, if you care about libraries.

From this day forward, you must belong to NCLA.