SAVE CA LIBRARIES LITERACY - ADVOCATE !

SAVE CA LIBRARIES LITERACY - ADVOCATE !

The Budget Subcommittees are gearing up to meet, so it's time to make our voices heard and work to reinstate funding for libraries and literacy!

Once again, we need your help writing letters -- lots of letters!

Why?

We have a good news/bad news situation.

The good news is that libraries and literacy are in the budget for 2013/2014!!
The bad news is that the amount budgeted for literacy is a 38% reduction from 2010/2011.
- we are serving an increased number of adult learners with 24% fewer staff and 14% fewer tutors
- staff is not available to recruit, train and manage our volunteer force

EVERYONE -- tutors, learners, literacy professionals, and friends

Rise to the occasion and Write letters. Lots of letters – by April 24th

Some things to keep in mind:
1. Handwritten letters are the best, but if you can't do that, don't worry -- send a typed letter.
2. Volume matters! Our goal is a minimum of 200 letters on the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chairpersons' desks, with copies on the committee members' desks.
3. You can use the same wording in your letters to the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chairs.
4. Personal stories make a difference. Ask your tutors and students to write about the difference your literacy program has made in their lives.

SAMPLE LETTER:

April xx, 2013

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla
Chair, Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4140
Sacramento, CA 94249
Dear Assemblywoman Bonilla,

Thank you for your support of public libraries and literacy services, and for recognizing the impact libraries can have on the lives of Californians.

As you are no doubt aware, in the last five years, State funding to support coordinated library programs administered at the local level went from over $30 million to $15 million to zero, and then bounced back to a minimal $4.7 million. The Governor’s current budget proposal maintains the $4.7 million in funding for statewide regional library systems and for California Library Literacy Services.

The California Library Association is requesting a budget augmentation that would, for a very small amount of money, truly transform the way libraries deliver services. The $5 million augmentation request includes three components:
1. $2.25 million to partner with the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives In California (CENIC), which currently provides internet infrastructure for County offices of education, community colleges, and the CSU and UC systems, to bring a high-speed, fiber optic internet infrastructure to the front door of each of the 1,116 public library outlets in the State. Senator Carol Liu is sponsoring SB 331, which would enable this funding to be administered through the California Library Services Act.
2. $2 million to provide grant funding for libraries in need of obtaining circuits or other technology required to make local connections to the broadband network
3. $750,000 to partially reinstate the State cuts to Literacy programs, in order to prevent programs from closing due to lack of funding. The State’s current investment of $2.7 million in California Library Literacy Services is leveraged with local matches and strong volunteer support to help nearly 20,000 adult learners per year in over 800 library branches to better their reading and writing skills so they can more fully participate in California’s economy.
With access to high speed network connections, libraries will be much better positioned to support the internet service needs of Californians for conducting job searches, increasing job skills, accessing health care information, completing homework assignments for schoolchildren or college students, and applying for government benefits at the State and Federal levels. With a minimal investment by the State to level the playing field for broadband access, we can ensure that even the most remote and underserved communities are placed on even footing with their more urban counterparts.

In addition to the many positive impacts this direct funding would have, the $5 million investment by the State would increase California’s matching funds that increase eligibility for Federal funding through the Library Services and Technology Act.

I thank you sincerely for your support of our efforts to improve access to technology, job skills, and educational opportunities for all Californians.

Best Regards,

In addition to sending a letter to Assemblymember Susan Bonilla (as addressed above), please send a letter (it can be the exact same letter!) to the following legislators:

Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla
Chair, Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4140
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez
Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 2170
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi
Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4117
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Brian Nestande
Assembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4139
Sacramento, CA 94249

Assemblyman Phil TingAssembly Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 3173
Sacramento, CA 94249

Senator Marty Block
Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, room 4090
Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator Ted Gaines
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 3070
Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator Rod Wright
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 2032
Sacramento, CA 95814

Thank you so much for all you do to support libraries and literacy!!!
Laura Seaholm
Program Manager
Contra Costa County Library
Project Second Chance
www.ccclib.org/psc
925.927.3250
lseaholm@ccclib.org