Kansas library advocacy efforts roundup

Note: Link List Updated March 15, 2016, 10am

Update: HB2719 hearing was yesterday, Monday, March 14, 2016. A fiscal note has been added for the bill (a plain English explanation of the bill) The links have been updated to reflect a few media stories from that day, as well as adding in a Storify link from social media posts of the day. 

I thought it might be a good idea to link to many of the advocacy efforts and links being shared online, against Kansas HB2719 — here’s a brief explanation from my own regional library system, the Northeast Kansas Library System.

I’m floored at the number of posts I’m seeing shared through Facebook — and those are the only ones I can see publicly. I’m pretty sure there’s much more being shared. Please keep sharing, calling, and writing the House Taxation Committee and your own House representative (look up here) about this bill of unintended consequences — it also could affect the public funding abilities of fire districts, airport taxing authority districts, parks and recreation commissions, water supply districts, and Washburn University (all listed/referred entities in HB2719).

Kansans love their libraries and librarians. That is becoming quickly clear.

Here’s several posts: I do apologize in advance if I overlook anyone’s posting. Please share more links in the comments if you are aware of any. The one thing I will ask: please keep any comments civil and respectful. 

Kansas Library Association and brief regional library system info

• Kansas Library Association — Urgent Legislative Action Needed!
• Kansas Library Association — Talking Points
• Public Now News Release from Kansas Library Association
• A brief History of the Kansas Regional Library Systems, from Central Kansas Library System

Media Coverage

• KAKE-Wichita – House bill jeopardizes over 100 Kansas libraries
• Topeka Capital-Journal – Librarians, others throw book at House bill clipping tax authority
• 580 Radio – Unintended Consequences Muddy Discussion of Unelected Boards Accountability
• Kansas Public Radio – Bill in the Legislature is Bad News for Kansas Libraries
• Hutchinson News — Area library officials raise their voices over measure that stirs expense/closure fears

Blog Posts

• Tom Taylor, Andover Public Library Director — Kansas House Bill 2719 (a MUST READ!)
• Katie Morris, an art teacher, and public library user — HB 2719 — An Open Letter (another MUST READ!)
• Kansas public library service model threatened (my earlier post)
• Kansas library advocacy reflections (so far) (another one of my posts)

Selected Facebook Posts from pre-hearing advocacy efforts

• David Frese, board member, Tonganoxie Public Library
• Eunice Smith Schroder, Library Director, Stevens County Library
• Janet Reynolds, Children’s Librarian, Linn County, Library District #2–LaCygne
• Good conversation on Marci Penner’s Facebook wall (Executive Director of Kansas Sampler Foundation)
• Another post from Marci Penner
• Adrienne Olejnik, Rossville Public Library Director, and also candidate for House District 51
• Kimberly Hayes Heath
• Mark Kern
• Southwest Kansas Library System
• McPherson Public Library
• McPherson Public Library
• Bonner Springs Public Library
• Basehor Community Library
• Effingham Community Library
• Morrill (Hiawatha) Public Library

Full disclosure: I am an employee of a Kansas regional library system. These thoughts are my own and not my employer’s. I am not advocating for my job. I am advocating for the citizens of Kansas who deserve maintaining equity and efficient public library service by keeping current funding models and practices in place, and oppose HB2719 as a result.