[Libs-Or] ACTION ITEM Fwd: [District Dispatch] Call now to support library funding!

[Diedre Conkling]

This may look familiar but the earlier request was for calling your
Representatives.  This request is for calling your Senators.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jacob Roberts <jroberts at alawash.org>
Date: Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Subject: [District Dispatch] Call now to support library funding!
To: district at ala.org


FULL POST: http://bit.ly/d1S0uM
--
District Dispatch has posted a new item, 'Call now to support library
funding!'

Please call your U.S. senators in Washington, D.C., today and ask them to
sign
onto a “Dear Colleague” 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.  LSTA is a population based
grant that is distributed to the state librarians through the Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS).  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 Colleague” letter that is circulating around in the Senate it
is urging the Appropriations Committee to include $300 million in funding
for
LSTA in the FY2011 budget.  Please contact your two senators’ offices and
tell them about 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 Colleague" 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 (ILTSL) 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
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.

As well as asking the Appropriations Committee to support LSTA, this “Dear
Colleague” letter circulating around the Senate is urging the Appropriations
Committee to specifically appropriate $100 million for the ILTSL program.
 This
amount would enable the program will be 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
Colleague" by customizing the letter below.

The deadline for the “Dear Colleague” 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/ 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 uses LSTA and ILTSL funding to benefit their
constituents
is VERY effective.

3.  Enter your contact information.

4.  Press “Send.”

5.  If you would prefer to call your representative, please call the Capitol
switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Senator.  The switchboard
will
transfer you to their office.  If you need to locate your Senators, go to
http://capwiz.com/ala/.

(For a video tutorial on how to use our Legislative Action Center click
here.)

You may view the latest post at
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=4669

You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates
are
posted.
Best regards,
Jacob Roberts
jroberts at alawash.org



-- 
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
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