[Libs-Or] Federal $$$ for Libraries: Please Call Your Representative's Office Before March 12th

[Jim Scheppke]

Dear Colleagues: 
I want to emphasize the importance of the message sent to this list
yesterday by Diedre Conkling of the OLA Legislation and Library Development
Committee. 

We need EVERY Oregon representative to sign on to the ³Dear Colleague²
letter for LSTA funding and school library funding. Here are the numbers to
call. If you¹ve never called your Representative¹s office before, you¹ll
find that it is easier than you think. They are glad you hear from you.
You¹re a constituent (be sure to say this). You only have one call to make.
Do it today! 

1st District, Rep. David Wu, 202-225-0855
2nd District, Rep. Greg Walden, 202-225-6730
3rd District, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, 202-225-4811
4th District, Rep. Peter DeFazio, 202-225-6416
5th District, Rep. Kurt Schrader, 202-225-5711

**********
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
flat 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 call your Representative¹s office and tell them
what LSTA does for your library (databases, L-net, demonstration grants,
etc.).  It is always a good idea to stress what programs and resources your
library provides to help build the local economy, help kids and students,
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 call your Representative¹s office and
explain 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.gov
and 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.


------ End of Forwarded Message

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.


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