[Libs-Or] ACTION ITEM: Fwd: [alacol2] Please Call Your Representatives and Ask Them to Sign These Dear Colleagues!

[Diedre Conkling]

Please contact your Congressional Representatives.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin K. Murphy <kmurphy at alawash.org>
Date: Thu, Mar 4, 2010 at 3:25 PM
Subject: [alacol2] Please Call Your Representatives and Ask Them to Sign
These Dear Colleagues!
To: alacol2 at ala.org


 Dear COL,

This week and next begins critical advocacy to support libraries.  We need
as many members of Congress as possible to sign onto these letters for the
following two programs – remember, every other group is doing the same thing
we are.  If we don’t advocate for libraries and library funding, the money
that should be allocated to us could go to other groups who are calling in
louder and higher numbers.  Please call your members of Congress on the
following two issues:

*LSTA*

Congress is currently busy drafting up the federal budget for fiscal year
2011.  It has never been more important than now that Congress fully funds
the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the only annual source for
federal funding to public 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
with out this funding.

There is a letter circulating around the House of Representatives urging the
Appropriations Committee to include $300 million in funding through LSTA in
the FY2011 budget.  Please go to http://www.capwiz.com/ala/home/ to find out
the name and number of your Representative and call his or her office and
tell them about work your library does in the community.  It is always a
good idea to stress what programs and resources your library provide 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 representative to sign onto the “Dear Colleague” letter
supporting LSTA.  *

* *

*School Libraries*

In his FY2011 budget, 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 programs to
receive federal dollars under the President’s plan.  However, Congress is
busy drafting up 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 their constituents NOW about the
important role that school libraries play in today’s schools.

Right now there is a letter circulating around the House of Representatives
urging the Appropriations Committee to specifically appropriate $100 million
for Improving Literacy Through School Libraries.  This amount means that
this program will be available to every state, rather than the current
competitive grant program.  Please go to http://www.capwiz.com/ala/home/ to
find out the name and number of your Representative and call his or her
office explaining to them how important having a school library can be in a
child’s education.  *Please ask them to sign on to the Improving Literacy
Through School Libraries “Dear Colleague.”*

Once your representative or their staff confirms that they would like to
sign on to the funding “Dear Colleagues,” please ask them to contact the
staffers below depending on their party affiliation:

Democrat

Ask them to contact Joseph Mais in Rep. Grijalva’s office and ask them to
sign onto the Dear Colleague.  His email address is
joseph.mais at mail.house.gov and his phone number is (202) 225-2435.

Republican

Ask them to contact Rachel Fenton in Rep. Vernon Ehlers’ office and sign
onto the Dear Colleague.  Her e-mail address is
Rachel.Fenton at mail.house.govand her phone number is (202) 225-3831.





It is of the utmost importance that you contact your Representative today
and urge them to sign on to these letters!  We need to keep the pressure on
our elected officials until the deadline for signatures on these critical
letters expires.  Grijalva and Ehlers plan to send the letter on Friday,
March 12, so time is of the essence.







Kristin Murphy

Government Relations Specialist

American Library Association - Washington Office

1615 New Hampshire Ave. NW, First Floor

Washington, D.C., 20009-2520

Phone Number: 202.628.8410

kmurphy at alawash.org



Questions about the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act?  Go to
www.ala.org/knowyourstimulus





-- 
Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR  97365
Work phone & fax:  541-265-3066
Work email:  diedre at beachbooks.org
Home email:  diedre08 at gmail.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20100304/89f3ad7a/attachment.html>