Time To Invest In Our Libraries ▬ Cal Matters

Time To Invest In Our Libraries

Cal Matters: 4.07.2021 by Greg Lucas and Patty Wong

California’s libraries are the hearts of their communities. That’s one reason 23 million Californians have library cards.

#BuildLibraries

But many of California’s libraries are 40 years of age or older, and like everything from power grids to two-lane highways, libraries eventually need to be repaired, renovated or replaced. Old wiring. Lousy plumbing. Non-existent or antiquated fire alarm or sprinkler systems. Restrooms that don’t work for Americans with disabilities. Despite the great love Californians have for our libraries, these conditions exist in far more communities than they should. 

The federal government hasn’t helped modernize and revitalize libraries since 1997, but that could change if the Build America’s Libraries Act – H.R.1581 and S.127 – is passed. The legislation would dedicate $5 billion to libraries nationwide, of which roughly $500 million would come to California. 

By any measure, this investment is long overdue and National Library Week, which began April 4, is an ideal time to consider how we can strengthen the resilience of California’s communities with a forward-looking approach to meet the challenges and needs of this century.

Our libraries are an essential part of California’s education system. In any given week, there are more than 100,000 different programs conducted in multiple languages, in-person and online, at more than 1,100 public library locations. The 23,000 computer terminals, coupled with the WiFi hotspots and laptops that can be checked out like books, help connect California’s least digitally connected.

But over half the state’s libraries have inadequate technology, broadband connectivity and ADA inaccessibility. Nearly one-third report health and safety deficiencies.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 10

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 14-15 yrs. old

(Ninth to Tenth graders)

 

Greg Lucas, California’s 25th State Librarian

Patty Wong, American Library Association’s president-elect and city librarian for Santa Monica Public Library

Los Angeles Public Library ▬ Ballot Measures Discussion with the League of Women Voters

Ballot Measures Discussion with the League of Women Voters

Easy Voter Guide

LA Public Library: 10.14.2020

Mona Field, Co-President of the Los Angeles League of Women Voters, helps us understand the 12 statewide measures, and some local measures, on the November 3, 2020 ballot.

Mona Field is a notable expert in state and local politics. In addition to her role with the League, she is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Glendale Community College and the author of California Government and Politics Today (15th Edition).

The discussion will focus on the pros and cons of the following:

➧ Property taxes

➧ Rent control

➧ Parolee voting sentence changes

➧ Approving or rejecting cash bail

➧ Funding for stem cell research                                  

➧ Reinstituting affirmative action

➧ Voting rights for some 17-year-olds

➧ Governing kidney dialysis clinics

➧ Special workplace rules for app-based companies like Uber and Lyft

➧ New consumer privacy rules

This event is being organized through Teens Leading Change at the Eagle Rock Branch Library.  WATCH 1:09:02

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 14

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 21-22 yrs. old

(college level)

2020 Easy Voter Guide is Online in 5 Languages

Easy Voter Guide in 5 Languages

November 2020 Easy Voter Guide is Online!

EVG offers basic voting info & our trusted, community reviewed, easy-to-read summaries of the 12 ballot measures voters will need to decide on for the Nov Election.

Easy Voter Guide

Easy Voter Guide in 5 languages

Spanish

Chinese

Korean

Vietnamese

OCTOBER 19, 2020

Last day to register to vote in this election.

If you are registered to vote you will get a ballot mailed to you about a month before Election Day

Check your registration to make sure it’s up to date. If your signature has changed over time, then re-register to update your signature at VOTER STATUS.

NOVEMBER 3, 2020 ELECTION DAY

Your voting location is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

MISSED THE OCTOBER 19 VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE?

NO PROBLEM! YOU CAN STILL VOTE IN THIS ELECTION!

If you missed the deadline, go to any Voting Location.

You can register and vote on the same day – all the way up through Election Day.

1. Find your assigned Polling Place

2. Go to that Voting Location to make sure you get a ballot with all your local contests.

3. Same-day register and vote from home.

4. If you need to register after October 19 and want to vote from home, contact your County Elections Office to find out how to register and get a vote by mail ballot through Election Day.

State Propositions

Propositions are proposed laws presented to the public to vote on. Propositions can make new laws, change existing laws, and sometimes they change California’s Constitution. They can be placed on the ballot by people who collect

enough voter signatures or by state lawmakers (the California Legislature).

A proposition passes and becomes law

if it receives more than 50 percent YES votes.

Propositions 14 through 24 are “initiatives.”

For an initiative:

A YES vote means that you support the way the proposition would change things.

A NO vote means that you want to leave things the way they are now.

Proposition 25 is a “referendum,” which asks voters to decide on a law that was already passed.

For a referendum:

A YES vote means that you support the law and want to keep it.

A NO vote means you do not want the law to go into effect.

There are 12 state propositions in this election.

The way it is now:

What Prop would do if it passes:

Effect on the state budget:

People For Prop say:

People Against Prop say:

14 Stem Cell Research

15 Taxes on Commercial Property

16 Allow Public Agencies to Consider Diversity

17 Voting Rights for People Who Have Completed Their Prison Term

18 Voting Rights for 17-Year-Olds

19 Changes in Property Tax Rules

20 Changes to Criminal Penalties and Parole

21 Local Governments and Rent Control

22 Rideshare and Delivery Drivers

23 Kidney Dialysis Clinics

24 Changes to Consumer Privacy Laws

25 Yes or No on Getting Rid of Bail

  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 9

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old

(Eighth and Ninth graders)

Easy Voter Guide Online Now! ◯ LWVC

Easy Voter Guide

Easy Voter Guide Online Now!

LWVC:  1.06.2020

Our beloved Easy Voter Guide is now online! What's in our EVG this election?

1. How to register and vote in California
2. How to vote for President in the upcoming March 3 Primary
3. All about Proposition 13, Bonds for Schools and Colleges

Need more info on other races?

Make sure you check our online voter guide, Voter's Edge, to view your entire ballot and lots of additional help.

Signing up to Vote You must register to vote to get on the list of voters for the March election. The deadline to register for this election is February 18. You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older, not currently in state or federal prison or on parole for a felony, and not court-determined to be mentally incompetent to vote. Fill out the registration form online at registertovote.ca.gov or call 1-800-345-8683 to get a form.

When you sign up to vote, you decide if you want to choose a “political party.” There are six political parties in California. Or you can register without choosing a political party.

If you missed the deadline, then go to any pollling place or vote center. You will be able to register and vote on the same day - all the way up through Election Day. If you go to your assigned location, then your ballot will be sure to include all the contests on which you’re allowed to vote. Find your location at sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place.

Download the March 2020 Easy Voter Guide in English and Spanish!

The Easy Voter Guide will also be available in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean. Please check back on January 10!

Do you live in one of these counties?

Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Los Angeles, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Tuolumne.

You will have more days and more ways to vote! Download our one-pager information guide about changes in how you vote.

GUNNING FOG INDEX:  9.405

punctuation marks: 37   words: 346   3+ syllable words: 49

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

═════════►

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

Easy Voter Guide :: November 6 :: Election Day

November 6, 2018 ELECTION DAY

Easy Voter Guide

Easy Voter Guide

October 22, 2018

Last day to register to vote in this election.

October 30, 2018

Last day to request a “vote by mail” ballot.

November 6, 2018 ELECTION DAY

Your polling place is open from 7am- 8pm

If you missed the deadline, then go to your County Elections Office or other special location. You will be able to register and vote on the same day - all the way up through Election Day.

It’s 3 simple steps you can complete in one visit:

1. Register to Vote

2. VOTE

3. Seal your ballot in a special envelope and sign it.

Propositions

The way it is now:

What Prop would do if it passes:

Effect on the state budget:

People For Prop say:

People Against Prop say:

1 Affordable Housing Bonds

2 Mental Health Housing Program

3 Water Bonds

4 Children’s Hospital Bonds

5 Property Tax Rules

6 Transportation Taxes and Fees

7 Daylight Saving Time

8 Kidney Dialysis Clinics

9 was removed from the ballot due to a court decision.

10 Local Governments and Rent Control

11 Ambulance Employee Breaks

12 Farm Animal Cages

Candidates Voting Information

November 6, 2018 — California General Election

Voters Edge

National Voter Registration Day :: Sep 25

#NationalVoterRegistrationDay

Voting is as Easy as 1-2-3

YOUR VOTE. YOUR VOICE.

NOVEMBER 6, 2018 

Easy Voter Guide

• You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, 18     years or older

• You must register to get on the official list of voters

    in your county to vote in the November 6 election

• You can pick up a voter registration form

    at your library or post office

    have a registration form mailed to you

    by calling 1-800-345-8683

    or fill out the form online at

registertovote.ca.gov

• You only need to re-register if

   you change your address

   change your name

   want to change your political party

   or because you are no longer in prison or on

   parole for a felony

May 21, 2018 :: Last Day to Register to Vote in This Election

May 21, 2018

Last day to register to vote in this election

Easy Voter Guide

May 21, 2018

Last day to register to vote in this election

May 29, 2018

Last day to request a “vote by mail” ballot

June 5, 2018 :: ELECTION DAY

Your polling place is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Missed the May 21 voter registration deadline?

You can still vote in this election!

If you missed the deadline:

go to your County Elections Office or other special location

You will be able to register and vote on the same day - all the way up

through Election Day.

3 simple steps you can complete in one visit

1. Register to vote.

2  Vote.

3. Seal your ballot in a special envelope and sign it.

Voters Edge

Get the facts about the candidates and propositions before you vote.

Governor – The highest elected official in California:

Oversees most state departments and agencies.

Prepares annual state budget.

Approves or rejects new state laws.

Lieutenant Governor – Next in line:

Becomes Governor if the elected Governor leaves office.

Has a tie-breaking vote in the State Senate.

Secretary of State – Head of elections and record keeping:

Coordinates statewide elections and oversees election laws.

Also keeps records about new corporations and businesses and other state databases.

Controller – The state’s bookkeeper:

Keeps track of how the state’s money is spent.

Issues most checks from the state and manages collection of money due to the state. Reports on finances of state and local governments.

Treasurer – The state’s banker:

Manages the state’s investments and assets.

Coordinates the sale of state bonds.

Attorney General – The state’s top lawyer:

Makes sure laws are enforced the same way across the state.

Manages the state Department of Justice.

Oversees sheriffs and district attorneys.

Insurance Commissioner – Insurance overseer:

Manages the state Department of Insurance.

Enforces laws that insurance companies must follow.

Superintendent of Public Instruction – Head of public schools:

Manages the state Department of Education.

Provides leadership and assistance to all public schools in California.

Enforces education regulations.

U.S. Senator (6-Year term)

Representative in U.S. Congress (2-Year term)

State Senator (4-Year term; even-numbered districts will be voted on in this election)

State Assembly Member (2-Year term)

State Board of Equalization (state tax commission; 4-Year term)

Propositions

68 Bonds for Environment, Parks and Water

69 Transportation Funding

70 Cap-and-Trade Amendment

71 Ballot Measure Effective Date

72 Taxes for Rainwater Capture Systems

Produced for statewide elections in California since 1994, the Easy Voter Guide is a collaboration of the League of Women Voters® of California Education Fund and the California State Library.

The Easy Voter's Guide was started when a group of public library adult literacy students [ Bay Area New Readers Council ] felt that there was a lack of nonpartisan voter information accessible to adults still working on their reading skills.

Voter’s Edge California – Find information about your local as well as statewide candidates and measures along with a polling place look up feature.

CAvotes – Website of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

Look up your local League of Women Voters

The California State Library and Library Literacy Services – a partner and co-founder of the Easy Voter Guide project

Common Knowledge – co-founder of the Easy Voter Guide project

The James Irvine Foundation