Advocacy Committee

News

Committee Spotlight - Advocacy Committee
February 10, 2022
The first goal of the ILA Strategic Plan is Advocacy. We don’t think this is only an alphabetical coincidence. Advocacy is a cornerstone of ILA and for all libraries. Everyone loves the library, but we are easily overlooked. The Advocacy Commit…
Committee Spotlight - Advocacy Committee
November 21, 2019
Folks often think that ‘advocacy’ is just talking with elected officials when you need something. And since that’s the case, they don’t need to worry about it because their director or their Trustees or the ILA staff know…

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Events

  1. Jun 5 2023

    Advocacy Committee Meeting

    Monday, Jun 5, 2023 10:00am–12:00pm

  2. Aug 7 2023

    Advocacy Committee Meeting

    Monday, Aug 7, 2023 1:00pm

  3. Aug 28 2023

    Advocacy Committee Meeting (September Meeting)

    Monday, Aug 28, 2023 1:00pm

More events »


Committee Charge

  • Supports the targeted advocacy efforts set forth by the American Library Association and the Illinois Library Association
  • Strives to unite ILA members behind advocacy efforts set forth by the ILA Executive Board;
  • Works in tandem with the Public Policy Committee (PPC) to implement an annual legislative agenda;
  • Provides ILA members with the tools to make local, statewide, and national advocacy an integral part of their professional life;
  • Develops a long-range advocacy plan in conjunction with PPC and the Executive Board; and
  • Within this broad framework collaborates with the ILA President and ILA Executive Director to set an annual calendar of advocacy activities and to create communications, materials, and training in support of these activities.

The Advocacy Committee chair(s) serve(s) ex officio on ILA's Public Policy Committee.


Committee Composition

Composed of twelve voting members, serving three-year, staggered terms. Non-voting ex officio members are the ILA executive director, the director of the Illinois State Library, ILA president, ILA vice president/president-elect, and the chair of the Public Policy Committee.


Follow the Advocacy Committee's activities

  • View the ILA Advocacy Committee calendar for association-wide events and deadlines that guide the committee's work.
  • Access the Ready, Set, Advocate tool kit and video modules, designed as program-ready content for you to show and/or use for professional development opportunities and advocacy training events

Committee Reports, Agendas, and Minutes 


  1. Nanette Donohue Nanette Donohue, Co-chair Collections and Technical Services Manager at Champaign Public Library

    Co-chair Term ends 06/30/2023
    Member Term ends 06/30/2024

  2. Gail Graziani Gail Graziani, Co-chair Head of Resource Services at Indian Prairie Public Library District

    Co-chair Term ends 06/30/2023
    Member Term ends 06/30/2023

  3. Sam Adams-Lanham Sam Adams-Lanham, Member Community Engagement Librarian at Barrington Area Library

    Member Term ends 06/30/2025

  4. Joanna Bertucci Joanna Bertucci, Member Library Director at Park Ridge Public Library

    Member Term ends 06/30/2024

  5. Victoria Blackmer Victoria Blackmer, Member Director at Robert R. Jones Public Library

    Member Term ends 06/30/2025

  6. Dennis Danowski Dennis Danowski, Member Macomb Public Library District

    Member Term ends 06/30/2025

  7. Chris Houchens Chris Houchens, Member Director at Charleston Carnegie Public Library

    Member Term ends 06/30/2024

  8. Qiana M Johnson Qiana M Johnson, Member Northwestern University Libraries

    Member Term ends 06/30/2024

  9. Laura Kirk Laura Kirk, Member Youth Services Librarian at Green Hills Public Library District

    Member Term ends 06/30/2024

  10. Amanda McKay Amanda McKay, Member Effingham Public Library

    Member Term ends 06/30/2023

  11. Sara Murray Sara Murray, Member Executive Director at Algonquin Area Public Library District

    Member Term ends 06/30/2023

  12. Heather Jagman Heather Jagman, Ex officio Librarian at DePaul University Library

    Ex officio Term ends 06/30/2023

  13. Ryan Johnson Ryan Johnson, Ex officio Library Director at O'Fallon Public Library

    Ex officio Term ends 06/30/2025

  14. Ryan Livergood Ryan Livergood, Ex officio Executive Director at Warren-Newport Public Library District

    Ex officio Term ends 06/30/2023

  15. Greg McCormick Greg McCormick, Ex officio Director at Illinois State Library

    Ex officio Term ends 06/30/2025

  16. Alex C. Todd Alex C. Todd, Board liaison Executive Director at Prospect Heights Public Library District

    Board liaison Term ends 06/30/2023

  17. Cyndi Robinson Cyndi Robinson, Staff liaison Executive Director at Illinois Library Association

    Staff liaison Term ends 06/30/2025


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