Library advocates from across Minnesota began planning for the 2017 Minnesota Legislative session during the annual Library Legislative Forum on July 12, held at the St. Cloud Public Library (GRRL).
Minnesota Loves Libraries will be unifying theme for 2017 library advocacy efforts. A smart-looking new logo was unveiled. The original art for the logo is the work of Bernadette Stephenson, GRRL.
Details about the new campaign are still in development by a CRPLSA Advocacy sub-committee. Regional staff include:
- Jon Tatting – ECRL
- Bernadette Stephenson – GRRL
- Hillary Stevens – LARL
- Ken Behringer – MELSA
- Jennifer Harveland – SELCO
ECRL Director Barbara Misselt is the 2016 Legislative Chair of the Minnesota Library Association. She is working closely with the sub-committee.
As proof that Minnesotans do indeed love libraries. State Librarian Jen Nelson reported to the Forum that there were 24,340,258 visits to Minnesota’s 355 public libraries in 2015. She also said that 3,860,346 library card holders checked out 52,512,434 physical and electronic library items.