Urge Members of Congress to #FundLibraries in FY2022 !

Urge your Members of Congress to #FundLibraries in FY2022!

Please ask that they sign onto 

the Dear Appropriator letters for the LSTA and IAL

American Library Association Action Center: March 2021

#FundLibraries Campaign

President Biden is expected to soon submit an outline of his proposed budget spending requests for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, which includes federal funding amounts for libraries.

We need your help NOW until the final budget is signed in order to ensure that libraries are fully funded in the next fiscal year.

ALA has launched our annual FY2022 #FundLibraries Campaign, and we encourage you to bookmark this page and browse the provided resources that can be shared amongst your library community. Included is the one-page introduction to federal library funding, state-by-state library factsheets to share with your elected officials, and a handy visual guide on the overall federal appropriations process.

Because things are a bit different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, the Dear Appropriator letters have begun circulating this week in both the House and Senate, a few weeks later than in previous years.

For FY2022, we are asking congressional appropriators to include funding

➤ at least $206 million for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)

➤ $50 million for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) grant program. 

Will you contact your members of Congress and ask them to sign onto the Dear Appropriator letters?  READ MORE ➤➤

Find Your Elected Officials

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 15

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate

Support Build America's Libraries Act ▬ American Library Association

Build America's Libraries Act

ALA: 2021

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Introduced on January 28, 2021 by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), along with Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), the Build America's Libraries Act would fund upgrades to the nation's library infrastructure to address challenges such as natural disasters, COVID-19, broadband capacity, environmental hazards, and accessibility barriers.

This groundbreaking legislation would pave the way for new and improved library facilities in underserved communities across the country. Join us in the effort to support this bill and #BuildLibraries .

The Build America’s Library Act would begin to address decades of underinvestment by providing funds to repair and construct modern library facilities in underserved and disadvantaged communities. Specifically, funding could be used for:

➤ Constructing, renovating, modernizing, or retrofitting library facilities, including by enhancing facilities to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and vulnerability to natural disasters. 

* Investing in library infrastructure projects to improve internet access and connectivity.

➤ Reducing or eliminating the presence of potential hazards to library staff and patrons, including toxic substances, lead, mold, mildew, and unsafe drinking water.

* Making library facilities more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities.

➤ Improving library facilities for the purposes of supporting place-based services or community-based partnerships that provide library patrons with access to educational, workforce, behavioral health, mental health, and social services.

Urge your Senators to support the Build America's Libraries Act.

 TAKE ACTION NOW !

  

Resources

ALA one-pager: Build America's Libraries Act

Press release: ALA acclaims reintroduction of Build America's Libraries Act

Bill text: S. 127

Share Your Story

What are the biggest challenges you face in your library facilities? What impact would this legislation have on your community? Share your story with ALA to help make the case for federal support for library construction and modernization. 

Your elected officials want to hear concrete examples of impact and need from their constituents - increase your impact by sharing your story.

Take a moment to tell your community how important it is that we pass this legislation and #BuildLibraries. Use our social media graphics below to spread the word. Don't forget to follow @LibraryPolicy and #BuildLibraries on Twitter for more updates!  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 11

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 15-17 yrs. old

(Tenth to Eleventh graders)

Libraries Fight Illiteracy :: Libraries 2020 :: Pledge

Pledge

#VoteLibraries

Libraries Fight Illiteracy

Libraries 2020: Jan 2020

Illiteracy is still a major problem in the United States. As most librarians know, the ability to read and write is tied to nearly every activity in modern society. You have to know how to read in order to apply for jobs, to understand healthcare or properly take prescription or over the counter medicine, to take part in social media, or simply to participate in many social opportunities. Literacy is the foundation to build essential skills to perform better in school and develop an interest in becoming a lifelong learner.

It has a direct impact on one’s personal growth, economic welfare, and long-term well-being.

Approximately 32 million adults in America are considered to be illiterate; about 14% of the entire adult population cannot read

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Approximately 85% of youth who come into contact with the juvenile court are considered to be functionally illiterate, meaning they read at a basic or below basic level.

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Between 40 and 44 million adults, or roughly 20 to 23% of adults in the U.S., are limited to reading at the basic or below basic proficiency levels.

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Surprisingly, it's actually older Americans who most frequently lack adequate reading skills. Approximately one-third of adults who struggle with illiteracy are aged 65 or older.

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Research has also linked illiteracy to poverty as an adult. As many as 75% of welfare recipients struggle to read even the simplest texts.

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But American Libraries are equipped to help fight against illiteracy before it begins.

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Public Libraries play a major role in helping children learn to read, instill a love of reading, and ensure that they grow into literate adults. Programs like Summer Reading and partnerships with preschool programs that provide access to books throughout the summer or outside of the home have a proven positive impact on reading development. These preschool and summer reading programs encourage children to spend significant amounts of time with books, a first step toward reading achievement. Library programs also encourage parents to play greater roles in their children’s literacy development which is another critical factor leading to reading achievement. There are even studies that show that children who spend more time in the library have significantly higher reading levels compared to other recreational activities

With these programs alone, public libraries are in a remarkable position to expose children to great quantities of print and meaningful language and literacy development opportunities that researchers say are crucial to reading achievement thus allowing them to grow up to become more literate adults.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 13

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. old

(college level entry)

August Is for Advocacy :: Invite Elected Leaders Into Your Library via American Libraries

August Is for Advocacy

Summer is a critical time to invite elected leaders into your library

American Libraries: 7.24.2019 by Emily Wagner

Here’s the truth about the dog days of summer: August is prime time for advocacy. With members of Congress on recess, it is the perfect time to invite legislators to visit your library and let them see for themselves all the ways libraries bring value to their communities.

#ALAadvocacy

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Inviting your elected leaders—at the state, local, or national level—is not difficult. Here are a few steps to get started:

➧ Call your congressional member’s district office. Ask who handles meeting requests for their district and how they prefer to receive them.

➧ Write your request and tailor it to your elected leader, paying special attention to library services that intersect with their interests. For example, if your US representative is on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, invite them to visit programs that serve the needs of veterans in your community.

➧ If your member of Congress is not available, invite a staffer to visit your library. Often they will enjoy the tour so much they will want their boss to see it.

➧ Once the meeting is set up, put together supporting materials for the visit. The American Library Association’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office can coordinate with you to make sure you have the resources you need.

➧ When you conduct the tour, remember that your elected officials want to hear from you—your feedback is critical to their work. There is no need to feel intimidated.

➧ The visit is a wonderful photo opportunity for them. Be sure to ask ahead of time if they would like to take a picture or video inside the facility. Remember to ask permission to use images on your social media platforms (most officials will appreciate the visibility).

There are several steps you can take afterward that will multiply the impact of your decision maker’s visit, including:

➤ Follow up with the staffer to say thank you and ensure all their questions are answered.

➤ Promote your library’s value by highlighting the leader’s visit on social media.

➤ Write a letter to the editor expressing gratitude for the official’s visit and urging support for your library.

ALA is eager to learn about your congressional visits. Share your library tour using the hashtag #ALAadvocacy so that ALA can amplify your work and inspire others to host elected leaders.  READ MORE >>

RESOURCES

Advocacy 101 Video: Getting Your Library Story in your Local News

Using Social Media

Build Relationships with Elected Officials

Find Your Elected Official     

Become an Advocate  

Talking Points & Tools

Quotable Facts about America’s Libraries

Library Value Calculator

How valuable is your local library?

Use this handy Library Value Calculator, created by the Massachusetts Library Association.

2019 One-Pagers

One Pager: Libraries and Your Community

Leave-Behind: Federal Funding for Libraries

Talking Points: Federal Funding for Libraries

It’s Called a Public Library! Here’s How It Works . . . via EveryLibrary

SupportLibraries

@EveryLibrary

It’s Called a Public Library! Here’s How It Works . . .

EveryLibrary Medium.com: 3.09.2019 by Oleg Kagan

Let’s start with the basics: A public library is publicly-funded institution that provides access to information through materials-lending, research services, events like classes and workshops, and sometimes preservation of heritage through special collections.

Public libraries do a great many other things, but those are a good start because you can find the first three at every public library in the United States.

Public libraries aren’t a new idea. They’ve offered similar services for nearly 200 years; the Scoville Library in Salisbury, Connecticut first received $100 from the town coffers on April 9, 1810, making it arguably the first public library in the world.

Public Libraries aren’t rare, either. It’s common knowledge that there are more public libraries in the United States than there are Starbucks.

And they’ve been continuously popular! Between 1990 and 2014, visits to public libraries grew by a whopping 181%. For context, the population of the United States increased by 28% during that period. Fact: In the U.S., public libraries get over a billion visits every year.

Here’s how they work…

While you can use the library without a card, in order to truly partake in library offerings, you should get one.

Rules regarding cards vary, but most libraries require you to fill out a short application and provide a picture ID and/or proof of address. Sometimes libraries have residence requirements, but not always.

Once you have a card, you can borrow library materials like books, movies, music, and more, for a set time period. The average check-out period for books is around three weeks.

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Internet access and online resources

All public libraries in the United states offer free internet access to card holders through public computers and/or wifi. Nearly all have classes to teach computer basics like surfing the web and using email.

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Research/reference services

Whatever your research question, librarians are there to help. Moreover, part of a librarian’s training involves the skills to assist patrons in better understanding and contextualizing their information needs.

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Programs and events

One of the fastest growing areas in public libraries are programs and events for all ages. Library programs are usually free and open to the public and take place all over the schedule (even after-hours).

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Libraries do a lot!

Libraries provide a huge variety of other services too, depending on community needs. And it’s all available to community members for free, right? The truth is, part of what makes public libraries “public” is that they’re supported by public funds. In fact, the average household in the United States pays approximately $7.50 per month for their library. That may sound like a pretty penny, but when you break it down, the value of public libraries is incredible!

Indeed, countless studies have shown that every dollar spent on public libraries returns an average of five dollars in value. Pay 1, get 5 back — It’s that simple!  READ MORE >>

White House Budget Proposal :: Eliminate IMLS :: $183M LSTA via District Dispatch

White House budget proposal continues to miscalculate the value of libraries

District Dispatch: 2.12.2018 by Kathi Kromer

#FundLibraries

In its FY2019 budget released today, the White House proposed eliminating the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated to America’s libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The decision echoes the FY 2018 proposal, which also eliminated the grant-making agency and its programs. The administration’s budget also calls for elimination and/or severe cuts to many other federal programs that support libraries, including Innovative Approaches to Literacy, a Department of Education program.

The following statement was made by ALA President Jim Neal:

“The administration’s FY2019 budget is out of touch with the real needs of Americans and the priorities of leaders in Congress who represent them. The president miscalculates the value of more than 120,000 libraries across America, just as he did in his FY2018 budget proposal.

“There is bipartisan support for libraries in Congress, where decision-makers know that to cut funding for libraries is to undercut opportunity for their constituents.

“Thanks to its Grants to States program, IMLS funding provides services that benefit everyone in our communities, including:

> Veterans in California who receive assistance claiming well-earned benefits to further their education, get medical treatment, start a business and transition to civilian life.

> Students in Arkansas who prepare for today’s competitive job market by participating in coding classes taught by trained school and public librarians.

> Entrepreneurs in rural North Carolina who received business development assistance from an IMLS-funded business and technology outreach librarian.

> Adults in Kansas who take GED courses and use otherwise cost-prohibitive exam preparation tools to advance their education and improve career prospects.

“This administration’s new budget also decreases resources for children. Cutting federal support for programs like Innovative Approaches to Literacy comes at the cost of early literacy and improved student achievement, especially in the most underserved areas of our nation.

“Withholding federal support for libraries means withholding services that foster achievement, develop the workforce and contribute to local economies. ALA members will continue to highlight the value of libraries to our elected leaders in every U.S. congressional district. And we are confident that our congressional leaders will continue to protect the federal programs that invest in our communities.”

Will Tax Reform Have a Negative Impact on Adult Literacy Programs? via ProLiteracy

@EveryLibrary 

Will Tax Reform Have a Negative Impact on Adult Literacy Programs?

ProLiteracy Blog: 11.02.2017 by Jennifer Paulding

Recent actions and inactions by Congress over the last several weeks once again point to education and adult education in particular as low priorities in the overall budget agenda. The good news was that the first budget drafts showed no significant cuts to adult education or related programs of value to our field, such as Americorps. The disappointing news is that the ongoing discussions and refinement on the budget and tax reform has included no discussion about adult education or workforce development. =Once again the lack of attention is worrisome given the old adage “out of sight out of mind.” 

With this in mind, it is critical that adult education programs are regularly included as a major issue in discussions and legislative debates that impact the budget. It is clear that nearly every social issue can be linked to low adult literacy. In each case there is little room for improvement without recognizing the need for adult basic education.

Homelessness will not be resolved if those in need cannot read and write well enough to seek assistance, get a job, or help themselves find much needed services. Those in need of better health services won’t know where to find them or how to take advantage of free services if they lack basic skills that will better guide them to improved health. It is vital to our cause that we raise these issues whenever we have the opportunity.  READ MORE >> Advocacy

Find your Elected Official

Senate Committee Boosts Funding for IMLS LSTA via District Dispatch

Senate boosts funding for IMLS, LSTA thanks to ALA grassroots

District Dispatch: 9.08.2017 by Kevin Maher

Congress delivered good news for library funding after returning from its August recess this week. Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an increase of $4 million in funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), all of which would go to the formula-based Grants to States program.

Following months of intensive Hill lobbying by ALA Washington Office staff and the emails, phone calls and visits to Congress by ALA advocates, these gains are a win for libraries. According to a key Senate staffer, ALA’s ongoing grassroots campaign to save direct library funding launched last March – and the significant increase in the number of Senators and Representatives signing “Dear Appropriator” letters this year that it produced – played a major role in the gains for IMLS and Grants to States in the Senate Committee’s bill.

The Senate Committee’s bill, approved by the Labor-HHS Subcommittee on Wednesday, would boost IMLS funding to $235 million. Grants to States would receive $160 million. The bill also includes increased funding in FY 2018 for a number of other library-related programs.

NEXT

Full Senate Approval

Reconcile with House legislation at FY2017’s level of $231 million

Avoid Trump Administration proposal to eliminate IMLS and federal library funding

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Be ready to participate in one last grassroots push this fall when your voice is most needed to maintain – and possibly increase – library funding.  READ MORE @

One Million Americans for Libraries :: EveryLibrary

One Million Americans For Libraries

Join the movement! Help us find one million Americans who love libraries on Facebook.

EveryLibrary: 9.05.2017

For our 5th Anniversary we want to be able to reach even more Americans with a pro-library message. That’s why we’re announcing our One Million Americans For Libraries Campaign today!

Join us on Facebook and invite your friends to help us find one million Americans for libraries.

We’re so excited about the work that libraries are doing to help communities across the country. From storytimes to job placement assistance to helping people start new businesses, learn skills, and get ahead in life, librarians are really making a huge difference. We want to do everything we can to promote the importance of libraries to everyone in the country, and, with your help, we can do it through our Facebook page.

Starting on September 5th through November 7th (Election Day) we are going to campaign to reach one million Americans who love their public libraries and we want to get you involved in changing the landscape of library advocacy in the United States.

We created this event page so you can get involved in this campaign and make a huge difference for libraries across the country. Starting September 5th we are going to share great content for your walls, badges and images, stories and news, and share ways that you can get more involved. For now, please invite your friends to get involved here!

We do this work because we believe that libraries are critical to communities and that Americans rely on their libraries for important programs and services. We believe that libraries are the cornerstone of American society and that they truly make our country stronger.

This is crucial because we are seeing more politicians trying to defund and deny Americans access to their libraries. You probably seen libraries close in Douglas County, Oregon. Many of you helped us fight back when they tried to close the libraries in Mary Esther Florida. We were able to push back when the mayor tried to defund the libraries in Miami-Dade and we have fought against unjust legislation against libraries like the Michigan Gag-Order bill. And, of course, with your support we are able to work on dozens of local library campaigns and elections every year to help libraries win over 250 million dollars in annual funding.

None of this was possible without your support and the support of people just like you. The more people we can reach when there is a crisis, the more we can fight against these kinds of threats. I know that many of you believe in libraries but we know there are millions of Americans who also believe in libraries who we haven’t spoken to yet. The next time there is a crisis we want to be able to reach them to take action. The quickest and easiest way to reach millions of Americans for libraries is through our Facebook page.

That’s why we're asking you to help us reach one million Americans for libraries by liking and sharing our Facebook page on September 5th through November 7th and I’m also going ask you to take a just a few minutes and use the invite feature to invite your friends to like our page too.

We also want to hear from you about what we can do to reach this big huge goal!  READ MORE @

Copy and paste this into Facebook messenger

and send it to your friends.

There are people in the United States who are fighting to deny you access to your local public library. That’s why I just joined EveryLibrary’s campaign to find one million Americans who love libraries. I want to show my support for libraries in the United States and I’m challenging you to join me by liking the EveryLibrary Facebook page and sharing this message.

It’s easy to share by holding your finger down on this message and at the bottom it will say “forward.” Touch that and then click on the names of your friends in your list and it will send it to them. Show that you support libraries by liking the EveryLibrary Facebook page at facebook.com/everylibrary.