"Let Your State Officials Know How Important Libraries Are to You!"
A message from the ALA:
April 10–16 is “National Library Week.” This year’s theme is “Create your own story @ your library.” It’s a perfect opportunity for you to let your legislators know how important libraries are to you, telling your story about how important your library is to you, and the difference your library makes in your community. Libraries need your voice!
Libraries continue to be busier than ever helping families survive during these tough economic times, yet public libraries, school libraries, and academic libraries are facing closures and elimination of librarians and library workers—the people who help those with a job application, teach 21st-century skills, and nurture the love of reading in kids that will serve them the rest of their lives.
State governments provide much needed funding for libraries to provide public access to the Internet to everyone, critical databases for individuals and small businesses, and homework help.
Please send an e-mail to your governor and your representatives today, and pass this message on to your friends and colleagues.
Thank you for advocating for libraries and library staff.
Sincerely,
Michael Dowling
Director, Chapter Relations Office
American Library Association
Here are some details of what's going down in our own state legislature (from MNLibLeg email list).
ReplyDeleteToday the conferees for several of the omnibus budget bills were appointed. Below is a list of the conferees and the key library issues to be resolved in each conference committee.
EDUCATION BILL (HF 934):
Senators Gen Olson (R - Minnetrista), Carla Nelson (R - Rochester), Dave Thompson (R - Lakeville), Pam Wolf (R - Spring Lake Park) and Benjamin Kruse (R - Brooklyn Park)
Representatives Pat Garafalo (R - Farmington), Sondra Erickson (R - Princeton), Tim Kelly (R - Red Wing), Connie Doepke (R - Orono) and Dan Fabian (R - Roseau)
Library Issues:
The Senate bill repeals a maintenance of effort requirement for combination school-public libraries. There is no comparable provision in the House bill.
HIGHER EDUCATION BILL (HF 1101):
Senators Michelle Fischbach (R - Paynesville), John Carlson (R - Bemidji), David Brown (R - Becker), Claire Robling (R - Prior Lake) and Dave Senjem (R - Rochester)
Representatives Bud Nornes (R - Fergus Falls), Bob Dettmer (R - Forest Lake), Kurt Daudt (R - Crown), Paul Mazerol (R - Bloomington) and David Hancock (R - Bemidji)
Library Issues:
Funding for Minitex is reduced by $531,000 per year in the Senate bill and by $281,000 per year in the House bill.
Funidng for MnLINK is reduced by $20,000 per year in both the House bill and the Senate bill.
TAX BILL (HF 42):
Senators Julianne Ortman (R - Chanhassen), Dave Senjem (R - Rochester), Warren Limmer (R - Maple Grove), Roger Chamberlain (R - Lino Lakes) and Julie Rosen (R - Fairmont)
Representatives Greg Davids (R - Preston), Sarah Anderson (R - Plymouth), Jenifer Loon (R - Eden Prairie), Linda Runbeck (Circle Pines) and Ann Lenczewski (DFL - Bloomington)
Library Issues:
Library Maintenance of Effort (including the minimum level of local support) for 2012 and 2013 is reduced to 90% of the 2011 level in the Senate bill.
Library Maintenance of Effort (including the minimum level of local support) for 2012 and 2013 is suspended in the House bill.
It is not clear how soon the conference committees will begin meeting. The Legislature will be on Spring Break next week.