[Libs-Or] [Fwd: [alacoun] Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Language]

Thu Mar 11 15:28:05 PST 2010

FYI, if you haven't called yet, please call before next Wednesday.  You 
don't need to call if you are in the 1st District as Rep. David Wu has 
already signed.

Suzanne L. Sager
Oregon ALA Chapter Councilor

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[alacoun] Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Language
Date: 	Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:16:58 -0500
From: 	Norton, Sylvia K <Sylvia.K.Norton at maine.gov>
To: 	ALA Council <alacoun at ala.org>

It's not too late if you haven't called your member of Congress about 
LSTA and Improving Literacy through School Libraries. I just read that 
the ALA Washington office learned the "Dear Colleague" deadline has been 
extended to next Wednesday 3/17.  You know this is important, please call. 

Sylvia

*From:* Norton, Sylvia K [mailto:Sylvia.K.Norton at maine.gov]
*Sent:* Thursday, March 04, 2010 7:33 PM
*To:* ALA Council
*Subject:* [alacoun] RE: LSTA/Improving Literacy Through School 
Libraries Language

I think most of us are familiar with LSTA as the single largest source 
of federal funding for the nation's libraries, but you may not be aware 
of the importance of the Improving Literacy through School Libraries.  
  School librarians are invisible in the federal education programs even 
in those which are specifically for the literacy and technology found at 
the core of our practice.  We need specific language such as ILSL  to 
ensure school libraries are remembered in federal  education programs.  
Funding the Improving Literacy through School Libraries at the $100 
million level would mean  each state receives funds for school 
libraries.   Yes, we've had ILSL since 2002, but the paltry $19 million 
funding level  meant school libraries have had to compete nationally 
with hundreds of others for the fifty or eighty grants that might be 
handed out each year.  ILSL was established under Title I, but I know 
from my role as a state level coordinator that most personnel in a state 
department of education have never heard of it.    Money talks  and 
seeing federal education money dedicated to school libraries makes it a 
heck of a lot easier to remind a state department of education about the 
value of school librarians and school libraries. 

I recently heard a US Department of Ed leader speak about the 
administration's assurances for education as an "engine for 
innovation".    I see the AASL Standards for the 21^st Century Learner 
as critical to that engine, but we need language and money  to fuel it.  
When you call, remember to include ILSL so school librarians can get 
under the hood and be part of the race.

Sylvia K. Norton

AASL Division Councilor

*From:* Emily Sheketoff [mailto:esheketoff at alawash.org]
*Sent:* Thursday, March 04, 2010 6:26 PM
*To:* ALA Council
*Subject:* [alacoun] LSTA/Improving Literacy Through School Libraries 
Language

Please help by calling your Member of Congress today.

This week and next begins a time for 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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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.

-- 
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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