[Tasl] Urgent Call to Action: Ask your Senators to support library funding--May 5th deadline

[Bruce Hester]

This forwarded to us by Sara Kelley Johns, AASL Immediate Past President

Please excuse cross-postings. Feel free to post this to other discussion
lists!

Please contact your Senators and ask them 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 to sign the letter is Tuesday May 5!  LSTA
and Improving Literacy Through School Libraries are two of the most
important federal programs for libraries today.  The letter will not be
taken seriously, and it will appear as if Members of Congress
do not care about libraries if we don't have 60 signers on the letter.
Programs that don't have a vocal support network are in danger of being
cut. 

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. You can see the letter here.

 Please
click the "Take Action" link in the upper right hand corner.  This link
will take you to sample language and direct it toward your specific
Senator.  When you contact your Senators you must ask him or her to
call Andrew Odgren with Senator Reed at  202-224-4642 or Mathew Hussey with
Senator Snowe at 202-224-5344.
 
 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

Numerous
studies show there is a clear link between the quality of library media
programs in schools staffed by an experienced school library media
specialist
and student academic achievement. School library media centers can
contribute
to improved student achievement by providing up-to-date instructional
materials
aligned to the curriculum and instructional practices, collaborating with
and
supporting teachers, administrators, and parents, and extending their hours
of
operation beyond the school day.                                           

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sara Kelly Johns

Immediate Past President, AASL

Associate Editor for AASL Community, Knowledge Quest

Lake Placid Middle/High School LMC

34 School Street

Lake Placid, NY 12946

518-523-2474, ext. 4132

FAX: 518-523-4861

johns at northnet.org

SaraKJohns at aol.com

 



"Information is the currency of democracy." -- Thomas Jefferson

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