Thank You for Volunteering in New Orleans

Patricia J. Boze,

We did amazing work this weekend around New Orleans. On behalf of the ALA Staff and Members who organized the Libraries Build Communities volunteer events, and in the name of the libraries and private homes we worked on, please know that we are grateful for your service and humbled by the amount of work you did. In all, just over 900 volunteers went out by bus to 20+ sites each day. Added up, that's 3.5 years (yes, years) of work done over two days. You helped in a substantial and lasting way. At each work site, your effort improves the quality of life for the people of New Orleans. Thank you for coming to conference, but especially for demonstrating with your time and sweat to the truth that libraries and library staff make a difference in the world.

We have set up a page on the ALA Conference Wiki for you to submit stories about what you did, experienced, saw and felt. Go to http://meredith.wolfwater.com/ala2006/index.php?title=Volunteer_Stories and tell your story. We'll be sharing stories in American Libraries that are gathered from these submissions.

Not many people at conference, let alone around the country, saw what you saw in the city. To continue helping libraries and the people of New Orleans, we need to spread the word. We're asking you to try and write about your experience for your local paper or library news letter. A sample press release is on the conference wiki site,

http://meredith.wolfwater.com/ala2006/index.php?title=Sample_Press_Release_for_Volunteers.

Also, the Washington Office wants to encourage you to take a moment and contact your own senator or representative about what you saw. If you have ever needed an excuse, now is the time to use your personal witness to apply pressure for libraries and funding for the gulf coast and New Orleans. The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121; http://www.onlineadvocacy.net/ to email your Member of Congress. More details and talking points are on the wiki page at http://meredith.wolfwater.com/ala2006/index.php?title=Legislative_Action_for_Affected_Libraries.

Again, our humble thanks for what you did. We were glad to help make it happen.

John, Michael and Erika

ALA's Libraries Build Communities Coordinators

PS. If you did not have a chance to participate but are getting this email, many thanks for your donation to the library relief effort. Over $300,000 has been raised to date. Plus, if you know someone who registered on-site, please forward our thanks. We didn't collect all the on-site registrant's emails.... - John

John Chrastka

ALA Manager for Membership Development

50 E. Huron St.

Chicago, IL. 60611

800-545-2433 ext 2159

jchrastka@ala.org