The Federal Library Legislative and Advocacy Network is a national grassroots effort of the American Library Association’s Office on Governmental Relations, which performs federal library advocacy at the local level and shares federal legislative and advocacy information with state chapters.  Network members respond primarily to calls for action from the ALA Washington Office, while they also share information learned locally back through the network.

The Illinois FLLAN consists of the statewide network coordinator and individual contacts in each congressional district.  The statewide coordinator is appointed by the ILA president.  Local contacts in congressional districts may be appointed by the statewide coordinator or by the ILA president, as needed.  ILA’s membership assists in grassroots advocacy efforts on federal issues.

Whenever the ILA Executive Board adopts a position on a federal legislative topic, the ILA president may give permission for network members to use the ILA name and refer to the ILA position in their correspondence.

Illinois FLLAN Coordinator
The Illinois Federal Library Legislative and Advocacy Network coordinator is a person designated to serve as the primary point of contact in the state for federal issues related to libraries.  As federal issues arise, staff at the ALA Office on Governmental Relations (OGR) will communicate with the network contact to request that they convey the library position to Illinois congressional representatives and senators.

Specific network contact responsibilities include the following:

  • Identify an individual in each congressional district who can serve as a primary contact for the representative and write or forward letters when asked.
  • Identify individuals in the state who will take the lead in advocating in specific critical issues areas such as copyright, intellectual freedom, government information, school libraries, and library funding.  These experts would be asked to draft letters in response to requests from the ALA Washington Office.
  • Call, write, or e-mail congressional and senate offices on issues as needed.
  • Be informed of federal issues related to all types of libraries.
  • Disseminate information on federal library issues from the ALA OGR to all interested parties within the state.
  • Keep ALA OGR informed of any information learned at the state level that is pertinent to federal legislative and advocacy issues.
  • Track the impact of federal library issues on libraries in Illinois.
  • Serve as ex officio member of the ILA Public Policy Committee.
  • Communicate with the following state organizations:  Chicago Association of Law Libraries (CALL), Consortium of Academic Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI), Illinois chapter of the Special Libraries Association, Illinois Library Systems Directors Organization (ILSDO), and Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA).

Coordinator
Karen Danczak Lyons
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State St.
Chicago, IL  60605-1203
phone:  (312) 747-4018
fax:  (312) 745-1590
e-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Senator Richard J. Durbin (D)    Judy Rake    2008-2011
Senator Mark Steven Kirk (D)    Karen Danczak Lyons    2009-2011
Representative Bobby Rush (D-1)    Karen Danczak Lyons    2009-2011
Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-2)    Karen Danczak Lyons    2009-2011
Representative Dan Lipinski (D-3)    Karen Danczak Lyons    2009-2011
Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D-4)    Karen Danczak Lyons    2009-2011
Representative Mike Quigley (D-5)    Karen Danczak Lyons    2009-2011
Representative Peter Roskam (R-6)    Denise Zielinski    2008-2012
Representative Danny K. Davis (D-7)    Karen Danczak Lyons    2008-2012
Representative Joe Walsh (R-8)    Lisa Marie Smith    2009-2011
Representative Janice D. Schakowsky (D-9)    Carolyn A. Anthony    2008-2012
Representative Robert Dold (R-10) Lisa Marie Smith   2009-2011
Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-11)    Dianne Harmon    2008-2011
Representative Jerry F. Costello (D-12)    Elaine Steingrubey    2009-2011
Representative Judy Biggert (R-13)   Denise Zielinski  2008-2011
Representative Randy Hultgren (R-14)    Gail A. Carrillo    2009-2011
Representative Timothy V. Johnson (R-15)    Mary Mallory    2008-2012
Representative Donald A. Manzullo (R-16)    Carole Dickerson    2009-2012
Representative Bobby Schilling (R-17)    Dennis Danowski    2008-2012
Representative Aaron Schock (R-18)    Lee A. Logan    2009-2011
Representative John M. Shimkus (R-19)  Barbara Rhodes  2008-2012