[Libs-Or] Fwd: BATTLE FRONT: Federal Depository Library Program (new) - ALA Committee on Legislation (COL)

[Diedre Conkling]

Here is more information

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http://www.districtdispatch.org/2011/09/battle-front-federal-depository-library-program/
BATTLE FRONT: Federal Depository Library Program
Posted on September 1,
2011<http://www.districtdispatch.org/2011/09/battle-front-federal-depository-library-program/>
by jmcgilvray <http://www.districtdispatch.org/author/jmcgilvray/>| Leave a
comment<http://www.districtdispatch.org/2011/09/battle-front-federal-depository-library-program/#respond>

Serious budget battles are before us as library supporters. Key federal
library programs including those within the Government Printing Office
(GPO), the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and the Federal Digital
System (FDsys) are gravely threatened as Congress and the White House slash
appropriations on all kinds of federal programs.

It may be unfortunate to use the “war” theme but if our advocacy
strategies<http://www.districtdispatch.org/2011/08/10-quick-and-painless-steps-to-effective-advocacy-for-libraries-webinar-video/>are
not focused and successful, the American public stands to lose
important
library and information services.

ALA asks advocates from across the spectrum of library users and supporters
to “re-educate” members of
Congress<http://www.districtdispatch.org/2010/08/the-one-thing-that-always-works-in-getting-policymakers-to-listen-video/>about
the important role that the FDLP plays in over 1000 libraries as well
as online through FDsys. There are many new members of Congress who may not
be familiar with the FDLP and these related programs.

As part of the effort to fight major cuts threatening the FDLP, FDsys and
the GPO, the Government Information Subcommittee (GIS) of ALA’s Committee on
Legislation (COL)
<http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/committees/ala/ala-lg.cfm>prepared the
information provided in the action
alert <http://capwiz.com/ala/callalert/index.tt?alertid=53346186>. This
alert <http://capwiz.com/ala/callalert/index.tt?alertid=53346186> includes
an overview and key points about the importance of public access to
government information.

ALA asks library advocates to utilize the Legislative Action
Center<http://capwiz.com/ala/callalert/index.tt?alertid=53346186>to
contact your respective senators and Congressional representatives
about
the importance of transparency and access to government information as an
inherent element of a democratic society. If you are not already familiar
with how these federal information services are used in your community,
please check with your local library director or depository librarian to
find out more. Please utilize the information provided in the alert and
local examples of how these resources are being used to express the
importance of these programs.

This initiative cannot be a one-time effort, but will hopefully lead to an
ongoing relationship between library supporters and their respective
congressional offices on FDLP/FDsys as well as other federal-level library
programs.

Advocates are encouraged to stay in touch with the ALA Office of Government
Relations (OGR) and to share any feedback or questions with ALA staffers, as
ongoing relationships with Hill offices develop. On these GPO-related
issues, please contact: Jessica McGilvray (jmcgilvray at alawash.org).

*Note:* The battle to save FDsys and FDLP is one of the important battles –
and one of the early battles because of the schedule for Congressional
appropriations. But there are other battles pending such as funding for the
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and school libraries, to name
just two. Stay tuned for other advocacy alerts.
ALA thanks all library advocates for their ongoing efforts to save library
funding and programs – at the federal, state and local level. We will stay
in touch and offer support and information as these battles proceed. It is
only through strong grassroots advocacy that library services can prevail in
this “war.”

http://www.districtdispatch.org/2011/09/battle-front-federal-depository-library-program/

-- 
*Diedre Conkling**
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR 97365
Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066
Work email**: **diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org*<diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org>
*
Home email: **diedre08 at gmail.com* <diedre08 at gmail.com>

 WAR IS OBSOLETE<http://www.facebook.com/pages/WAR-IS-OBSOLETE/297916183027>
Holding resentment is like eating poison and waiting for the other person to
keel over. - Unknown Author
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