[LM_NET] Gen: deadline extended to advocate for library funding

[Beth Yoke <byoke@ALA.ORG>]

Please contact your Senator's office by May 14th and ask him/her to sign the "Dear 
Colleague" letter being circulated by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Olympia Snowe 
(R-ME) in support of funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and 
the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program. 

The deadline has been extended to May 14, 2009 for the "Dear Colleague" letter 
being circulated by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) in support 
of funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Improving 
Literacy Through School Libraries Program.


As of Friday May 1, we only have 13 signatures on the letter. Last year we had 47 
signatures. This is a tough budget year. After passing the stimulus package, only a 
select few programs will receive an increase in FY 2010. LSTA and the Improving 
Literacy Through School Libraries Program are in serious danger of receiving level 
funding, or possibly even cuts, if we don't have 60 signatures on the letter. 
Please contact your Senator's office immediately and encourage your library 
patrons, supporters and co-workers to do so as well! 

The letter is addressed to the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and 
Education Appropriation Subcommittees and requests that the Senate include $300 
million for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and $100 million for the 
Improving Literary Through School Libraries program for FY 2010.

Visit http://capwiz.com/ala/home/ for more details and contact info for your 
Senator.   When you contact your Senator's office you must that he or she call 
Andrew Odgren with Senator Reed at  202-224-4642 or Mathew Hussey with Senator 
Snowe at 202-224-5344 to sign on to the letter. 

Talking Points:

*       The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) was reauthorized as part of 
the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 (H.R. 13) and signed by the President 
on September 25, 2003 (P.L. 108-81)

*       LSTA is the only federal funding program exclusively for libraries

*       The Grants to State Library Agencies program provides funds to State 
Library Administrative Agencies using a population-based formula. State libraries 
may use the appropriation to support statewide initiatives and services; they also 
may distribute the funds through subgrant competitions or cooperative agreements to 
public, academic, research, school, and special libraries in their state.

*       LSTA offers a variety of competitive grants available to librarians: The 
21st Century Librarians Program; The National Leadership Grants; and the Native 
American Library Services: Enhancement Grants.

*       Around the country, knowledgeable librarians use the flexible LSTA funding 
to help patrons access essential information on a wide range of topics. They offer 
training on résumé development; help on web searches of job banks; workshops on 
career information; links to essential educational and community services; 
assistive devices for people with disabilities; family and youth literacy classes 
and services; homework help and mentoring programs; access to government 
information; a forum for enhanced civic engagement; summer reading programs and 
much more

*       LSTA provides funds to help libraries connect to each other electronically 
and provide users access to information through state, regional, national, and 
international networks

*       State libraries use LSTA funds to support statewide initiatives and also 
distribute the funds through subgrants or cooperative agreements to public, school, 
academic, research, and special libraries

*       LSTA funding enables libraries to pursue innovative opportunities, recruit 
and educate the next generation of librarians, and support research that is 
critical to libraries of all types

*       LSTA funds help libraries provide persons of limited financial resources or 
who live in remote areas, access to books and reference materials, computers and 
the internet, and community-based social services that are often available nowhere 
else

*       LSTA helps libraries serve as an important link to the business community, 
assisting with job creation and training programs, as well as assisting with 
business development initiatives.
*       Across the United States, numerous studies have shown that students in 
schools with strong school libraries learn more, get better grades, and score 
higher on standardized test scores than their peers in schools without libraries.
*       Education is not exclusive to the classroom; it extends into school 
libraries. Long regarded as the cornerstone of the school community, school 
libraries are no longer just for books. Instead, they have become sophisticated 
21st century learning environments offering a full range of print and electronic 
resources that provide equal learning opportunities to all students, regardless of 
the socio-economic or education levels of the community. School library media 
specialists collaborate with teachers and engage students meaningfully with 
information that matters to them both in the classroom and in the real world. They 
are a critical part of the instructional staff.
*       The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program is designed to 
improve student literacy skills and academic achievement by providing schools with 
up-to-date library materials, and to ensure that school library media centers are 
staffed by well-trained state-certified school library media specialists.  The 
program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and is the first 
program specifically aimed at upgrading school libraries since the original school 
library resources program was established in 1965. The Department of Education's 
January 2009 evaluation of the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program 
found it has been successful in improving the quality of school libraries.
*       When the funding levels are less than $100 million in a fiscal year, the 
Secretary awards competitive grants to eligible school districts. When funds are 
equal to or more than $100 million, the program will be distributed as formula 
grants to state departments of education. In FY 2008, out 496 applications received 
by the US Department of Education, there was only enough funds to award 60 grants.
*       Across the United States, numerous studies have shown that students in 
schools with strong school libraries learn more, get better grades, and score 
higher on standardized test scores than their peers in schools without libraries.
*       Education is not exclusive to the classroom; it extends into school 
libraries. Long regarded as the cornerstone of the school community, school 
libraries are no longer just for books. Instead, they have become sophisticated 
21st century learning environments offering a full range of print and electronic 
resources that provide equal learning opportunities to all students, regardless of 
the socio-economic or education levels of the community. School library media 
specialists collaborate with teachers and engage students meaningfully with 
information that matters to them both in the classroom and in the real world. They 
are a critical part of the instructional staff.
*       The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program is designed to 
improve student literacy skills and academic achievement by providing schools with 
up-to-date library materials, and to ensure that school library media centers are 
staffed by well-trained state-certified school library media specialists.  The 
program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and is the first 
program specifically aimed at upgrading school libraries since the original school 
library resources program was established in 1965. The Department of Education's 
January 2009 evaluation of the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program 
found it has been successful in improving the quality of school libraries.
*       When the funding levels are less than $100 million in a fiscal year, the 
Secretary awards competitive grants to eligible school districts. When funds are 
equal to or more than $100 million, the program will be distributed as formula 
grants to state departments of education. In FY 2008, out 496 applications received 
by the US Department of Education, there was only enough funds to award 60 grants.

UPDATE - The following Senators have signed onto the Dear Colleague for FY2010:

Reed

Snowe

Kohl

Lautenberg

Cardin

Gillibrand

Lieberman

Wyden

Boxer

Lincoln

Kennedy

Menendez

Whitehouse

Bingaman

Sanders

 

While it is critical that we thank these Senators, we need at least 60 signatures 
to make our needs heard.  The following Senators have signed on in the past, but 
have not done so this year:

Collins
Cantwell
Sanders
Pryor
Tester
Brown
Leahy
Dodd
Sununu
Smith

Levin
Kerry
Akaka
Rockefeller
Stabenow
Durbin
Schumer
Johnson
Baucus
Klobuchar
Feingold
Mikulski
Casey
Dole
Conrad
Burr
McCaskill
Salazar
Bill Nelson
Webb
Coleman

 

Beth Yoke, Executive Director

Young Adult Library Services Association

fastest growing division of ALA

50 E. Huron St. Chicago, IL 60611

1.800.545.2433 x4391

fax: 312.280.5276

Attend the Genre Galaxy Workshop in July!

http://tinyurl.com/GenreGalaxy  

byoke@ala.org <mailto:byoke@ala.org> 

 


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