[Libs-Or] URGENT ACTION ALERT: Get Librarians included

[Suzanne Sager]

FYI,

Suzanne L. Sager
Oregon ALA Chapter Councilor

The current draft of the Senate's $80 billion version of the /Jobs for 
Main Street Act/ does not include librarians.  However, the bill does 
include $20.5 billion for "Creating Jobs that Provide Public Services" 
which includes $18 billion for hiring and retaining teachers; $500 
million for hiring firefighters; $500 million for hiring police and $1.5 
billion for hiring and training youth.

The message to advocates -- as soon as possible is:

 

ALA has reports from Congressional offices that they hear from teachers, 
police and firefighters every day and almost nothing from the library 
community.  Libraries are as essential as schools and public safety and 
help the economy by helping people find jobs.  Yet library jobs are 
being cut -- and, now, not included in this jobs bill.  It is vitally 
important that librarians be as vocal as these other public employees. 
The reason they are getting funding in this piece of legislation is 
because they are calling their congressional offices more often and in 
higher numbers than we are. 

 

Your grassroots efforts are critically important.  The omission of 
librarians in the jobs bill is in addition to the troubling news this 
week that President Obama's budget proposal freezes the Library Services 
and Technology Act (LSTA) and consolidates the school library program 
with literacy programs in the Department of Education.  These cuts will 
lead to a loss of jobs and a loss of services that our communities 
cannot afford to be without.

 

Please call both of your U.S. Senators to ask each of them to request 
that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Richard Durbin 
(D-IL), and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND),  include the hiring and 
retaining of librarians in the $18 billion as well. 


This bill could come up at any moment and it is critically important 
that you contact your Senators' offices *immediately* and tell them to 
push the above Senate leaders to include librarians in the jobs bill.  
Don't just call once -- keep calling until we succeed.  Make sure to 
tell your senators what your library is doing to help people find jobs. 

 

We cannot let this legislation pass without the inclusion of library 
employees.  We have no chance of getting into this legislation without 
your calls and emails -- and the support of all senators!!

 

Please act now.

Sincerely,

LEB

 

 

*URGENT MESSAGE TO LIBRARY ADVOCATES: *

 

Please call both of your U.S. Senators to ask each of them to request 
that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Richard Durbin 
(D-IL), and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND),  include the hiring and 
retaining of librarians in the $18 billion "Jobs Bill" as well. 

 

 

BACKGROUND FOR "JOBS FOR MAIN STREET ACT"

 

1. Libraries play a key role in getting America back to work again.  
Nationwide, the library is the only source of no-fee Internet access for 
71 percent of Americans. With more and more job applications only being 
accepted online, the public library is becoming the center of most 
American's job searches.

 

2. State Library Agencies reported in November 2009 that 77 percent of 
states cut funds that support local public libraries, which has meant 
layoffs, staff furloughs, and forced retirements. This has caused a 75 
percent cut in services to the public including canceled statewide 
databases used for job searching, homework help, and cuts in 24/7 
reference, which are used by small businesses and students.

 

3.  Our proposal to be a part of the $20.5 billion program to create 
jobs that provide public services would not add any additional funding, 
but would give libraries a specific amount to draw on. 

 

4. The money would be used for library jobs that are focused on 
assisting patrons with getting back to work -- thereby having the impact 
of assisting literally millions of Americans find employment. None of 
these funds would be used for facilities or equipment.

 

5. These funds would be distributed in a clear, concise, affirmative 
manner. Funds would be distributed to states using a formula through 
IMLS based 50 percent on population, and 50 percent on relative 
unemployment (similar to the Department of Labor's Dislocated Worker 
Program).

 

6. The Chief State Library Officer in each state would be responsible 
for distributing funds to local public libraries based on their local needs.

 

7. A minimum amount of funding per library could offer one library staff 
job per building based upon need and a maximum of five full-time staff.

 

9. Funds would be limited to hiring back staff released due to budget 
cuts, recruiting new staff and/or expanding staff services around job 
searching and employment skills training.

 

Call the U.S. Capital switchboard ASAP at 202.224.3121.  For email 
addresses and other contact information go to: 
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

 

 


-- 
Portland State University logo

Suzanne L. Sager
Library East, Cataloging
Portland State University

503-725-8169
503-725-5799
sagers at pdx.edu

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