[Libs-Or] Senator Merkley's Office Needs to Hear From You Today

[Jim Scheppke]

Dear Colleagues:

As the list at the bottom of the message from ALA indicates, our Senator
Merkley is still a holdout on the library funding letter. That means his
office has not gotten enough calls and emails. Do it today ...

Contact Caitie Whelan today: 202-224-3753 or
caitie_whelan at merkley.senate.gov

We need both Oregon Senators to support increased funding for libraries. If
your library has applied for an LSTA grant this year, you need to call to
make sure we have the funds we need to make the grants. If your library
benefits from statewide database licensing, Plinkit, L-net, OSLIS or other
programs funded with LSTA funds you need to call today so that we¹ll have
the money we need to fund these needed programs.

Please call or email today!

Jim Scheppke, State Librarian
Oregon State Library
250 Winter St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-4367
(fax) 503-585-8059
jim.b.scheppke at state.or.us

Go Green, Keep it on screen - think before you print.


------ Forwarded Message
From: "Emily Sheketoff, American Library Association" <kmurphy at alawash.org>
Reply-To: "Emily Sheketoff, American Library Association"
<kmurphy at alawash.org>
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:55:42 -0400 (EDT)
To: James Scheppke <jim.b.scheppke at state.or.us>
Subject: Only 72 hours to go! Ask your senator to support library funding!

 
Only 72 hours to go! Ask your senator to support library funding!
Call your senators now to support library funding! Take Action!
<http://capwiz.com/ala/utr/1/GAYCMIRVSY/LHHSMIRWEG/5004574491>
 
We only have 72 hours to go!  The deadline for these "Dear Appropriator" to
be received by the Appropriations Committee is April 14, so it is important
that you call your senators today and ask them to sign onto a "Dear
Appropriator" letter that is circulating around the Senate. This letter will
be sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee and will be asking the
committee to support the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the
Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (ILTSL) program in its FY2011
budget.

BACKGROUND ON THE PROGRAMS AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR
 
LSTA

Congress is currently drafting the federal budget for fiscal year 2011.  It
has never been more important than now that Congress fully funds the LSTA,
the only annual source for federal funding to libraries.   As Congress
writes next year's budget they need to understand that dollars from the
state and local levels are at an all-time low, and libraries can not
continue to do their important work without this funding.

In this "Dear Appropriator" letter that is circulating around in the Senate,
the signatures are urging the Appropriations Committee to include $300
million in funding through LSTA in the FY2011 budget.  Please contact your
two senators' offices and tell them about the work your library does in the
state and community.  It is always a good idea to stress what programs and
resources your library provides to help build the local economy, help kids
with their homework, and so much more.  After you have explained how
libraries are an incredibly valuable investment, please ask your senator to
sign onto the "Dear Appropriator" letter supporting LSTA and Improving
Literacy Through School Libraries (ILTSL).

School Libraries

In his FY2011 budget request, President Obama consolidated Improving
Literacy Through School Libraries with five other literacy programs. This
would mean that school libraries will have to directly compete with other
dissimilar programs to receive federal dollars under the President's plan.
However, Congress is drafting their own budget for FY2011 right now, and
there is no word yet if they will go along with President Obama's
recommendation of consolidation.  Congress needs to hear from you NOW about
the important role that school libraries play in today's schools.

Right now there is a letter circulating around the Senate urging the
Appropriations Committee to specifically appropriate $100 million for the
ILTSL program.  This amount would make money available to every state,
rather than the current competitive grant program.  Please contact your two
senators' offices explaining to them how important having a school library
can be in a child's education.  Please ask them to sign on to the ILTSL and
LSTA "Dear Appropriator" by customizing the letter below.

The deadline for the "Dear Appropriator" letter is April 14, so please
contact your senators today and urge them to sign on!  Also, please ask your
friends and library supporters to contact their senators as well - we need
to keep the pressure on our elected officials so these programs receive the
funding they need.
 
To take action, please take the following steps:
1.  Please go to http://capwiz.com/ala/
<http://capwiz.com/ala/utr/1/GAYCMIRVSY/EYVUMIRWEH/5004574491>  or click on
the "Take Action!" button in the upper right hand corner of this e-mail.
2.  Customize the sample letter as you see fit - remember, a personal story
on how your library benefits your community matters the most!
3.  Enter your contact information.
4.  Press Send.
5.  If you would prefer to call your representative, feel free to dial the
Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask for your representative.  The
switchboard will transfer you to their office.  If you need to locate your
members of Congress, please go to http://capwiz.com/ala/
<http://capwiz.com/ala/utr/1/GAYCMIRVSY/KGDFMIRWEI/5004574491> .
6.  Please ask your friends and supporters to call.  We need as many
signatures as possible on these letters and your grassroots efforts could
make the difference.

If your senator is on this list, please thank them.  They have signed onto
the "Dear Appropriator" letter:
 
Reed
Snowe
Lincoln
Wyden
Leahy
Johnson
Brown, Sherrod
Bingaman
Stabenow
Akaka
Cardin
Menendez
Begich
Levin
Boxer
Udall, Tom
Kohl
Durbin
Sanders

 
 

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