From the ALA:
“Each year, the library community makes our voice heard for federal funding, which libraries across the country rely on to sustain crucial programs. Congress is crafting next year’s federal budget on a truncated timeline – with only one week for House members to show their support.
It’s time to take action. It’s time to #FundLibraries.
Tell Congress to Fund Libraries!
The federal appropriations process began with the President’s proposed budget, before moving on to the House and Senate. Library champions in both chambers are leading our budget request letters and working hard to make the case for increased library funding through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program (IAL):
- In the House, Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Don Bacon (R-NE) are leading the LSTA letter, and Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Bacon are leading the IAL letter.
- In the Senate, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) is leading both letters!
We are requesting funding of at least $232 for LSTA and $50 million for IAL. Learn more about the campaign – and find tools to share this action – at ALA’s #FundLibraries homepage!
We are incredibly grateful for the time, work, and dedication you have put in to support libraries. Your efforts as advocates are responsible for some of the most consequential wins for libraries in decades. Now stand with libraries, library workers, and the communities they serve: take action to #FundLibraries!
Thank you for all you do for libraries!
ALA Public Policy & Advocacy”
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Thanks so much for speaking up for libraries! What would we do without them?
If you love books and libraries, you might enjoy this book by Sara Nisha Adams that so clearly shows their transformational powers. I read this one for library book club and absolutely loved it. I hope you will, too! ~Becky
I couldn’t agree more, Becky! Libraries are essential, and we need to support them.
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Yes! Thanks, Margot!
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Thanks for speaking up for libraries, Becky.. I’m also a member of ALA. Your book recommendation looks wonderful.
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Thanks, Pat. It’s a wonderful book!
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Amen! You’re preaching to the choir. Sadly, schools are also doing away with school librarians. Libraries should be open to kids all day, not just when the teacher can bring their entire class.
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Terrible trends affecting libraries, especially those in schools. Thanks, Pete!
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In the Information Age, how can you have a school without a library and a librarian (i.e., information literary specialist and literacy support)?
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That is a reasonable question, Liz. Unfortunately, when schools are looking to cut their budget, School Boards look at librarians as luxury items. The library will stay, but in my last year, teachers checked in and checked out books with their class, and children did not have access to the library before school, during recess and lunch, or after school. Besides being a great resource, the library is a safe haven for many children.
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What a shame. It’s definitely false economy.
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This feels close to a hopeless case these days but is needed more than ever. Well said, Becky. I wish you well.
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You’re right, Rosie; it is needed more than ever!
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our libraries appear to be well funded; a spanking new one has been built just around the block with an aboriginal name; I love our library 🙂
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Good to know, John. Yes, libraries are great!
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A VERY important message, Becky. Thank you.
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Sure is; thank YOU, Dave!
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My immediate thought upon reading your post is worry that some politicians will make their yes votes contingent on adding censorship/book banning provisions to the bill.
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That’s a very valid concern these days, Liz! I hope it doesn’t happen, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised.
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Here’s hoping my concern is baseless.
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Libraries are wonderful. We’re lucky in that two in our area have recently been remodeled, so I’m guessing they are adequately funded. But face it, all libraries should be adequately funded.
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Yes!
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Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Becky. Sent letters to my reps. Also, put your book rec on my For Later shelf (all 9 copies in our library system are checked out and there’s a hold list. Looking forward to reading!)
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Thanks for doing that, Tracy. And I hope you like the book!
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I’ll let you know when I read it.
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Okay!
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Why is it that things that are wonderful for communities, that we all know are treasures that should not be lost, have to be continually fought for!
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I know…it’s crazy!
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Hi Becky
Libraries serve the community and are a democratic institution for learning. We love libraries, our own as well public libraries. We absolutely agree, public libraries need a decent funding.
Keep well
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Exactly! Thanks for chiming in!
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I couldn’t agree more. I read about this in the papers! Public libraries are golden!
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Yes!
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Here in the UK libraries are being closed to save money. There was a ‘consultation’ about closing the one nearest to me. The consultation cost more than it did to run the library for another year. They closed it and had to pay redundancy which would have kept it running for another two years. It’s a listed building so they still have to pay to maintain it.
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That seems crazy, doesn’t it? What a shame that your closest library has closed!
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