[LM_NET] Give me a $ amount for bill

[Diane Chen <DianeRChen@AOL.COM>]

During the recent Tennessee Library Legislative Days I spoke with some
legislators who are willing to "be school library champions" in our state. They
want us to help write a bill to provide funding for school library materials.
They will then shop this around with their constituents, get cosponsors and
present it during the 2006 assembly. They have asked me what is a reasonable
amount to request. I told them I'd get back to them with some proposals. So here
 we go... how much per child should we write this (knowing it will be changed
 greatly)?
$8.50 is supposedly the national average.  We have  preliminary results in
for a survey showing that 87% of the school  libraries in Tennessee receive less
than the national average from their  districts. There is no line item in our
BEP budget for school library materials,  although many districts choose to
use some of the instructional materials line  item to fund their libraries.
Using the power of LM_NET's collective brain, help me compose a bill.
Imagine if each of us approached legislators across the country with our  grassroots
campaign for funding. Kentucky was successful. Let's expand this.  Let's
share the wording and the process with each other. It isn't difficult to  ask for
a library champion, especially if you make it a point to know your
representative. Read Across America week is a great chance to remind legislators  
of our
importance in the reading role.
Interestingly only 5 school librarians were present during our LLD out of
180 library advocates, but be assured we spoke loudly.  I hope that you are
making plans NOW to attend National Library Legislative Day in May. There  will
be special sessions just for the school librarians.  The senate may  not be in
session that week so if you aren't in DC, you need to be in your  senator's
office representing libraries. It takes all of us working together  with a clear
vision and the power of our convictions to affect change.
Diane Chen, Library Information Specialist
Hickman Elementary, Nashville, TN
Email:  _DianeRChen@aol.com_ (mailto:DianeRChen@aol.com)

--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------