Preparing for the 2019 Legislative Session - Academic Library Survey

Help us help advocate and lobby for you!

Legislators are preparing to write the state's $32 billion budget, re-write the code related to education and workforce development programs across 9 state agencies, debate several bills related to property taxes, local income tax, the opioid crisis, IN Dept of Child Services, teacher pay, school safety, bias crimes, sports betting and much more. During the last State budget session, a key legislator raised questions about academic libraries during a budget hearing--we want to be better prepared this year.

Our messaging needs to be as specific as possible to policymakers' goals and values. For many questions below, you will find a simple YES/NO question with option to comment. Thank you in advance for your responses to this important survey.

NOTE - We understand that academic librarians of public institutions may not be permitted to speak on the behalf of your institutions. We are asking your opinions and observations as our members and key stakeholders; we are not asking for your official institution's position, nor for any advocacy action at this time.

Question Title

* 1. Contact Information

Name *

Academic Library *

City/Town

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address *

Phone Number (office or cell; ideally both)

YOUR UNIQUE MESSAGING, specific to YOUR community's policymakers
If you as a citizen, or if one of your champions were speaking with your legislators or the governor, what specific program or initiative from your academic library would you describe that would appeal to them? What does your library offer that aligns with their top-line priorities (college or career skills, graduation rates, soft skills, economic development)? Please be specific. Write it as a 1-2 sentence summary or tweet. Try to include the result in quantitative terms where possible.

Examples--
*_______ academic library provide a place to study, facilitate project-based learning and free access the internet for digital resources not otherwise available to college students and community members in our rural area of the state/for many of our low-income students.
* ____ college library partners with [name] K-12 school libraries by visiting # middle/high school classes and # students to share ways to search scholarly journals that will be essential in college.
* ____ college library works to provide academic support to [name] high school for the ## students enrolled in dual credit classes through our college/university.
* [Library/Librarian] co-teaches at least ## classes a year so that college students understand digital resources and scholarly research.
* Last year, the academic library directly served ## of total ## students enrolled at the college campus (through library checkouts, classroom instruction and library visits).

Don't have something like above? Then simply include a unique factoid that your legislator would know and could repeat about your academic library (i.e. special collection, event, expansion/modernization, support for faculty research).

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* 2. What is unique about (or what special program of) your academic library would appeal to legislators or the governor? (Amy or Lucinda could use this example when they talk with your legislators.)

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* 3. As we advocate for INSPIRE, Indiana's virtual library, describe how your library or students rely on INSPIRE.

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* 4. Does your academic library support dual credit or distance learning options provided by your campus to high schools or public libraries?

Yes

Not yet, but would be interested or is planned for near future.

Please describe how.

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* 5. In the last year, what best describes your teaching or co-teaching of classes? (describe courses or type of teaching or co-teaching in comments--information literacy, research, etc.)

I teach at least one credit-bearing, library-related class and am listed as the instructor for the course.

I teach or co-teach regularly, but am not listed as the primary instructor for the courses.

I teach or co-teach sessions upon request.

I do not teach or co-teach any courses or class sessions.

Comments

Question Title

* 6. In order to extend internet access, does your library provide guest access beyond enrolled students? (i.e. allow guest cards, guest login to WIFI, amp up our WIFI beyond our building or hours)

Yes

Not yet, but planned for near future.

Not anymore. We used to but eliminated it for reasons described in comments.

No, not at all

Please describe how...

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* 7. What other ways might your library extend internet access or library services? (Check all that apply.)

provide guest access for internet beyond enrolled students

loan mobile hotspots

maintain a CAC reader for military CACs

extend the WIFI beyond your building or parking lot for after-hours access

Other

Please describe how.

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* 8. Did your campus or library handle any challenges of library or other academic materials in 2017 or 2018? (for purposes here, we are looking at informal and formal challenges, to understand the extent of current questions)

Yes

Comments - Please describe the nature of the challenge and resolution. NOTE this will be kept for internal purposes and follow up contact to you from Lucinda to understand the current range of challenges and potential local opposition.

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* 9. Did your campus or academic library face a challenge to a library or campus program(s) in 2017 or 2018? (for purposes here, we are looking at informal and formal challenges, to understand the extent of current questions)

Yes

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* 10. Did you report your challenge, even if resolved successfully, to the ALA Office?

Yes

Comments

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* 11. What specific business or community leader(s) would publicly compliment the academic library or are your champions?

Below please offer any specific examples, stats, quotes or items you would want us to know as we advocate around the following issues and priorities that we expect to discuss with legislators in 2019:
* INSPIRE, Indiana's virtual library
* funding for your internet connectivity for libraries and schools
* support for school librarians, library assistants and library materials in K-12 education
* expanded broadband coverage for residents and communities
* lifelong learning initiatives
* any taxation issues (property, local income tax issues)
* township merger legislation (like last year)
* and finally, the value of federal programs like IMLS grants and e-Rate funding from the federal government

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* 12. What other information would you want us to know about specific ILF policy priorities or issues? See above.

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* 13. As you consider how your campus or library might be criticized, describe any criticism that you, your campus or your academic library received in the last two years and your response, if any? (We keep this in confidence; it helps us to prepare ways to respond and support you. Feel free to call Lucinda to discuss.)