[Libs-Or] Fwd: Take action! Protect federal funding for libraries!

[Diedre Conkling]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Roberta Stevens, ALA President" <kmurphy at alawash.org>
Date: Feb 25, 2011 9:11 AM
Subject: Take action! Protect federal funding for libraries!
To: "Diedre Conkling" <diedre08 at gmail.com>

   Dear ALA Members,

I am writing to you today to enlist your participation in an
association-wide advocacy campaign to protect funding for the Library
Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Improving Literacy Through School
Libraries program.

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution
(CR), H.R. 1, funding the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. The House version
zeroed out the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program. Action
now moves to the Senate, which is drafting its own version of the CR.

This is the time to reach out to your U.S. senators by phone or email – and,
importantly, to urge others in your communities to do so as well.

The request to your senators is straightforward. In the Continuing
Resolution for 2011:

1.       Maintain the 2010 funding level of $213.5 million for the Library
Services and Technology Act.

2.       Maintain the 2010 funding level of $19.1 million for the Improving
Literacy Through School Libraries program.

Beyond these basic requests, I urge you to share with your senators how you
are using this federal funding and how the constituents of your state
benefit educationally and economically from library services during these
challenging times. Provide examples of how you assist the public with online
job searching, preparing resumes, small business development, accessing
online information and training, etc.

Inform your senators about the role school libraries play in ensuring
students graduate with the skills they need to be successful in today’s
workforce. The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program increases
the literacy skills and academic achievement of students by providing them
with access to up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped,
technologically advanced school library media centers; and well-trained,
professionally certified school librarians.

This is only the latest part of our ongoing need for grassroots advocacy on
federal appropriations and other library issues. The federal government’s
2012 budget will be the next focus of Congress. Your messages to the
senators requesting 2011 support for the Library Services and Technology Act
and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program will also
influence their deliberations for the 2012 funding levels.

Your advocacy is vital to ensuring that our libraries remain a fundamental
force in America’s economic and educational future. As an association – and
as a profession – we must work together to have a strong voice.

The ALA Legislative Action Center (http://capwiz.com/ala) can assist you
with contacting your senators. If you need further help, call Jeff Kratz or
Kristin Murphy with the ALA Office for Government Relations at
1-800-941-8478.

Thank you.

Sincerely,



Roberta Stevens
ALA President

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