[Libs-Or] ACTION NEEDED: Contact your U.S. Senators and Reps Today to Support Library Funding

[Diedre Conkling]

http://www.districtdispatch.org/2014/03/contact-u-s-senators-reps-today-support-library-funding/

Contact your U.S. Senators and Reps Today to Support Library Funding
Posted on March 19, 2014 by Jeffrey Kratz

Please contact your U.S.
Senators<http://capwiz.com/ala/callalert/index.tt?alertid=63130726>and
Representative <http://capwiz.com/ala/callalert/index.tt?alertid=63130696>by
going to theLegislative Action Center<http://capwiz.com/ala/home/>and
urge them to support funding in FY 2015 for the Library Services and
Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL).

There are currently two letters circulating in the House of Representatives
and the Senate.  One letter (a letter in the House and a in the Senate) is
asking for support of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the
FY 2015 Appropriations bill.  The other letter (a letter in the House and a
in the Senate) is asking for support for the Innovative Approaches to
Literacy (IAL) program also in the FY 2015 Appropriations bill.  To find
out if your legislators have signed one of the letters this year, view this
chart<http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/3-19%20Letter%20Signatories.pdf>.
If not please contact him/her and encourage them to do so.  If your Senator
or Representative has signed one of these letters, please thank him/her for
their support of libraries.

Read below for some background information on LSTA and IAL.

*LSTA:*

LSTA is the primary source of annual funding for libraries in the federal
budget.  The bulk of this program is a population-based grant funded to
each state through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Each state determines how they will allocate their LSTA funds, often
relying upon this money to provide job searching databases, resume
workshops, summer reading projects, and so much more.  In addition, LSTA
also supports:

   - *Native American and Native Hawaiian Library      Services*      to
   support improved access to library services for Native Americans,
   Alaska Native Villages, and Native Hawaiians;
   - *National Leadership Grants* to support      activities of national
   significance that enhances the quality of library      services nationwide
   and provide coordination between libraries and      museums; and,
   - *Laura Bush 21st Century Librarians* which is      used to help
   develop and promote the next generation of librarians.

*IAL:*

>From 2002 to 2010, the *Improving Literacy through School
Libraries*program had been the primary source of federal funding for
school
libraries.  However, in recent years the President and U.S. Congress have
consolidated or zero-funded this program.  ALA gives a special thanks to
Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) who recognized that school
libraries need a direct funding source in the federal budget. In FY 2012,
through report language in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and
Education Appropriations bill, the two redirected money to the U.S.
Department of Education to create the IAL program.

With Improving Literacy through School Libraries being defunded, IAL has
taken over as the primary source of federal funding for school libraries.
Focusing on low income schools, these funds help many schools bring their
school libraries up to standards.  This money is not enough to help every
school library, but it does help some with updating materials and
equipment, allowing children from disadvantaged areas to have opportunities
to become college and career ready.

Thank you for your help!






http://www.districtdispatch.org/2014/03/contact-u-s-senators-reps-today-support-library-funding/




-- 
*Diedre Conkling*




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

 "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change
your attitude."--Maya Angelou
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