Harmatz Award

Nomination Form

It is time to nominate a New Jersey Library Trustee for the Harmatz Award. The award is given to a library trustee to help defray the costs of attending the American Library Association’s National Library Legislative Day.

Every May, the American Library Association sponsors National Library Legislative Day in Washington D. C. On this day, hundreds of librarians, trustees and friends visit with their senators and representatives to discuss library issues. Last year approximately 500 people attended representing 47 states.

For over twenty years, the New Jersey Library Association has sent a delegation to Washington for this vital advocacy activity. It is important that a New Jersey Library Trustee also be represented in this delegation to speak about the importance of federal funding for library services from a trustee’s perspective.

This year National Legislative Day will be held on May 13 and May 14. Tuesday, May 13 is “Briefing Day” where staff members of the American Library Association prepare participants for congressional visits by discussing the important issues of the day. This is a full day of updates beginning at 9:30 am. Wednesday, May 14 is the day the delegation visits Congressional offices. NJLA will schedule those visits for all participants.

A special pre-conference is also scheduled for May 12 designed specifically for library trustees. It is called “Introduction to National Library Legislative Day: Why Your Participation is Important: What to Do and How To Do It”, and is designed to provide tips on how to make an impact during congressional visits and to help with the organization of presentations to your legislators. This two-hour session will be held at the American Library Association’s Washington Office1615 New Hampshire Ave NW,
First Floor, Washington DC 20009-2520 (phone 202-628-8410; fax : 202-628-8419) from 3:00-5:00 pm.

It is essential the trustee selected for the Daniel Harmatz Award participate in the activities on May 13 and May 14. Hopefully, this person can also attend the May 12 program.