The American Library Association (ALA) Washington office contacted REFORMA, the National Association for the Promotion of Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, to help identify someone from southern Arizona to participate in ALA's 2023 Congressional Fly-in on March 8 and 9.

The fly-in is an advocacy effort targeting members of Congress to gain support from key members for full funding for the Library Services and Technology Act, among other issues. The national REFORMA Office asked Bob Diaz, University Libraries Special Collections Associate Librarian, if he was interested in participating in this year’s efforts.

Diaz served as the president of the local chapter of REFORMA from January 2021 through January 2023. "I wholeheartedly accepted the invitation," he said. The ALA Washington Office staff held a full day of advocacy training, and "the following day, l and Erin MacFarlane, chair of AZLA’s legislative committee, met with representatives from the offices of Senator Sinema, Senator Kelly, and Congressman Grijalva. Congressman Grijalva was in hearings that day but agreed to step out during a break to say hello to me and Erin. We had just met with one of his aides. The meeting with him was brief, but he was very receptive to our efforts, and he has taken the lead in sponsoring the push to have LSTA fully funded this year."

Read article online at americanlibrariesmagazine.org.