Promoting library services, advocacy and continuing education for the people of Washington State.
Government Relations Representative
Job Description

A.     Directs on a year-round basis a full-scale legislative program utilizing all available government relations tools and implements policies set forth by the WLA Executive Board through the Association's Legislative Planning Committee. Government relations activities may include, but not be limited to:

  1. Drafts or otherwise prepares legislation;
  2. Seeks out legislative sponsors in both parties for bills to be introduced by WLA; takes all necessary action within the legislature to obtain passage of bills;
  3. Contacts and confers with members of the legislative and executive branches to persuade them to support legislation favorable to WLA's legislative priorities;
  4. Studies proposed legislation to determine possible effects on libraries;
  5. Confers with legislators and staff of legislative committees as appropriate, emphasizing weaknesses or merits of specific bills to influence passage, defeat or amendment of bills.

B.     Meets with local librarians to identify problems which may be solvable through legislative action.

C.     Educates and assists local librarians, trustees and library employees in the fundamentals of grass-roots lobbying.

D.     Organizes meetings between librarians and legislators; assists in planning Library Legislative Day.

E.     Identifies issues for the Legislative Planning Committee and develops proposed positions on these issues; writes and distributes position papers on current issues for legislators and grass-roots lobbying.

F.     Monitors and recommends positions on issues which do not directly affect libraries.

G.     Interacts with departments of the executive branch of state government to seek inclusion of WLA legislation in their packages of legislation as appropriate; interacts with allied professional and trade associations to develop coalitions to advance WLA's legislative priorities.

H.     Prepares, produces and distributes a newsletter (the OLYMPIA REPORT) on legislative events and the current status of bills of interest to the library community during the legislative session, adds pertinent legislative information to the Washington Library Website during and between sessions, disseminates library related bills to designated Legislative Committee Co-Chair for analysis and distribution to the appropriate Legislative Committee member(s),and distributes copies of committee rosters and other documents.

I.     Meets with local groups to present the library position on issues resulting from legislation affecting libraries.

J.     Plans with the Legislative Co-Chairpersons for testimony of individual librarians, friends of the library, trustees and/or others who can testify at legislative hearings in support of WLA's position on a particular issue.

K.     Registers with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission and provides the WLA Treasurer with copies of the Lobbyist Registration Form, L-1, and the monthly Report of Expenditures, Form L-2, which are filed with the Commission; assists in preparing the PDC, Form L-3, Annual Lobbyist Employer's Report.

L.     Attends meetings of, and reports to, the Legislative Planning Committee, Executive Board, and the membership at the annual WLA conference, and other meetings upon request by the Legislative Co-Chairpersons.

M.     Alerts both Legislative Co-Chairpersons to notify librarians, friends groups, trustees and others, as appropriate, to communicate with members of the legislature.

N.     Immediate supervision will be provided by the Legislative Co-Chairpersons with ultimate supervision residing in the WLA President.

O.     Arrange weekly e-mail, conference call or other method to communicate legislative updates to the President, Vice President, Legislative Committee Co-Chair, and PR Committee Chair during legislative session. Arrange monthly e-mail, conference call or other method to communicate strategy related information to the same individuals between sessions.

8/96

 © Washington Library Association Site Map
Comments or suggestions?
Last updated:  October 23, 2007