1. Now that the election is over, go to www.maine.gov and find your state representative and state senator.
2. [As soon as possible] call them and congratulate them on their win and ask if you can buy them a cup of coffee or tea. Talk to them about their favorite books. Offer to get them some book tapes for their commute to Augusta.
3. Begin sending them your newsletters and notices of upcoming events.
4. See if you can get them into the library [soon].
5. After January, keep in touch and as the budget is being rolled out at the end of January, begin talking with them about MARVEL! etc. OH, see if you can get them to meet with you at he State House during Maine Library Week in January ( check MLA website for dates)
6. Make friends
7. Thank them
8. Remember how important a service you provide to your community. Tell everyone, legislators, select people, town councilors and parents how much the library is being used as people cut back on discretionary spending. 9. Stay in contact with other librarians and remember how important libraries are to the world.
9. Get enough rest, good food, time with friends, exercise for yourselves so that as things get tighter in this economy, you stay healthy and relaxed.

Hope this is helpful.

Yours,
Beth

Beth Edmonds
Freeport Community Library
10 Library Drive
Freeport, ME 04032
Library Director

NOTE: Senator Beth Edmonds received the Presidents' Award which is given by the president of both MASL and MLA. Jeff Small and Molly Larson presented Senator Edmonds with this award honoring her terms of service in the Maine State Senate, her service to the people of Maine, and for her advocacy on behalf of all Maine libraries.

This award was presented at at the Maine Libraries Conference on Thursday October 23 after Senator Edmonds gave her keynote talk during lunch.