[LM_NET] Fwd: Ask your senators to protect library funding!

[Sara Kelly Johns <sarakellyjohns@YAHOO.COM>]

Please excuse the cross-posting but NOW is the time to take action!

We can do this, Sara

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

Sara Kelly Johns, Candidate for ALA President

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@northnet.org

skjohns@gmail.com



skj4ala@gmail.com

http://www.skj4ala.com







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

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kristin Murphy, American Library Association <kmurphy@alawash.org>

Date: Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 3:17 PM
Subject: Ask your senators to protect library funding!
To: Sara Kelly Johns <skjohns@gmail.com>











  
    
    
      
      Take Action Now 
      
    
    
  
  
    

    
      
        

        
          Ask your senators to protect library funding!
        
        

        
          
            
                        
                        
                                Call your senators now to support library funding!
                                Take Action!
                        
                        
                                

                        
                         
                        
                                
                        Please call your U.S. senators in Washington, D.C., today 
and ask them to sign onto a "Dear Appropriator" letter that is circulating around 
the Senate. This letter will be sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee and 
will be asking the committee to support the Library Services and Technology Act 
(LSTA) and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (ILTSL) program in its 
FY2011 budget.


BACKGROUND ON THE PROGRAMS AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR
 
LSTA

Congress is currently drafting the federal budget for fiscal year 2011.  It has 
never been more important than now that Congress fully funds the LSTA, the only 
annual source for federal funding to
libraries.   As Congress writes next year's budget they need to understand that 
dollars from the state and local levels are at an all-time low, and libraries can 
not continue to do their
important work without this funding.

In this "Dear Appropriator" letter that is circulating around in the Senate, the 
signatures are urging the Appropriations Committee to include $300 million in 
funding through LSTA in the FY2011 budget.  Please contact your two senators' 
offices and tell them about the work your library does in the state and community.  
It is always a good idea to stress what programs and resources your library 
provides to help build the local economy, help kids with their homework, and so 
much more.  After you have explained how libraries are an incredibly valuable 
investment, please ask your senator to sign onto the "Dear Appropriator" letter 
supporting LSTA and Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (ILTSL). 


School
Libraries

In his FY2011 budget request, President Obama consolidated Improving Literacy 
Through School Libraries with five other literacy programs. This would mean that 
school
libraries will have to directly compete with other dissimilar programs to receive 
federal dollars under the President's plan.  However, Congress is drafting their 
own budget for FY2011 right now, and there is no word yet if they will go along 
with President Obama's recommendation of consolidation.  Congress needs to hear 
from you NOW about the important role that school libraries play in today's schools.


Right now there is a letter circulating around the Senate urging the Appropriations 
Committee to specifically appropriate $100 million for the ILTSL program.  This 
amount would make money available to every state, rather than the current 
competitive grant program.  Please contact your two senators' offices explaining to 
them how important having a school
library can be in a child's education.  Please ask them to sign on to the ILTSL and 
LSTA "Dear Appropriator" by customizing the letter below.

The deadline for the "Dear
Appropriator" letter is April 14, so please contact your senators today and urge 
them to sign on!  Also, please ask your friends and library supporters to contact 
their senators as well - we need to keep the pressure on our elected officials so 
these programs receive the funding they need.

 

To take action, please take the following steps:
1.  Please go to http://capwiz.com/ala/ or click on the "Take Action!" button in 
the upper right hand corner of this e-mail.

2.  Customize the sample letter as you see fit - remember, a personal story on how 
your library benefits your community matters the most!
3.  Enter your contact information.
4.  Press Send.
5.  If you would prefer to call your representative, feel free to dial the Capitol 
switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask for your representative.  The switchboard will 
transfer you to their office.  If you need to locate your members of Congress, 
please go to http://capwiz.com/ala/.

6.  Please ask your friends and supporters to call.  We need as many signatures as 
possible on these letters and your grassroots efforts could make the difference.

                                
                        
                        
        
          
        
        
          

        
        
          
            
            If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here. 

            
            
          
        
      
    
  
  
    
  






-- 
Sara Kelly Johns, Candidate for ALA President
ALA Councilor at Large
Associate Editor for AASL Community, Knowledge Quest
Library Media Specialist, Lake Placid Middle/Senior HS LMC

34 School Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
W: 518-523-2474, ext. 4132
Fax: 518-523-4861
johns@northnet.org
skjohns@gmail.com


<http://www.skj4ala.com>

All knowledge is spendable currency, depending on the market--Maya Angelou, I Know 
Why the Caged Bird Sings




--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, you send a message 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

 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/
 * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/

--------------------------------------------------------------------