SAVE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING ! - Let-Them-Eat-Cake-Attitude Threatens to Destroy a Network of Public Assets

Let-Them-Eat-Cake-Attitude Threatens to Destroy a Network of Public Assets
Huffington Post: 2.15.11 by Scott Turow (President, Authors Guild)

While our economy seems to be slowly staggering back to its feet, state and municipal governments remain hard-hit as the result of lost tax revenues, lost stimulus money and pension fund payments that have grown to monstrous size to make up for the market losses of 2007 and 2008. Those governments are cutting everywhere they can and public libraries nationwide have been one of the biggest and least deserved losers in the process.

Widespread public access to knowledge, like public education, is one of the pillars of our democracy, a guarantee that we can maintain a well-informed citizenry.

But libraries seem to be losing out in the funding battles, due, in part, to the mistaken belief that they are somehow anachronistic in an age when so many Americans have instant computer access to information through the Internet. This is, frankly, a let-them-eat-cake-attitude that threatens to destroy a network of public assets that remains critical in our country.

Millions of Americans simply cannot afford to replace what libraries have traditionally offered for free -- access to books, computers and research assistance. Ironically, the importance of these services is even greater in a time of economic uncertainty.

For Americans facing job losses, working to gain new skills and seeking assistance in an increasingly digital world, U.S. public libraries are first responders. Two-thirds of libraries report they provide the only free access to computers and the Internet in their communities. Libraries function as crucial technology hubs, not merely for free Web access, but those who need computer training and assistance.

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For example, in California, Governor Brown's new proposed budget decreases General Fund assistance for public libraries by $30.4 million, eliminating the California Library Services Act, Public Library Foundation and the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services -- that is, access, resource sharing and adult literacy. In Texas, the cuts are even more stark, with the new budget proposing complete elimination of several programs that have either provided direct aid to libraries or irreplaceable programs, like those that created shared databases. Even in my own community, a small city on the northern edge of Chicago where a major university sits, my neighbors and I have been struggling to save a small branch library that was pivotal to the education of many neighborhood kids.

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I count myself as one of millions of Americans whose life simply would not be the same without the libraries that supported my learning. We cannot take that opportunity away from so many Americans who need that help urgently now. READ MORE !

Redlands Library - Literacy tutors help adults to improve their reading and writing

Literacy tutors help adults to improve their reading and writing
Redlands Daily Facts: 2.10.11
by Katherine Gifford (Volunteer Literacy)

Imagine receiving a Valentine from your child and not being able to read its sentiments.

"There is no age limit to learning to read and write," said Trudy Waldron, volunteer literacy coordinator for the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.

Recently, the Friends of the Library reactivated an adult literacy program as a core service at the library. The mission of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program is to provide professional one-on-one tutoring in reading and writing to adults, 18 years and older, seeking help in the community. The service to adult learners is confidential and free.

Diana Sommer, one of the literacy tutors, recently retired from teaching and working with International Students at the University of Redlands.

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The community should know how much adult literacy is needed. "Learners are not alone and help is available," Sommer said.

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The next tutor orientation meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. March 14, at the A.K. Smiley Library Assembly Room. If you are interested in volunteering or would like assistance in reading or writing, please contact a volunteer literacy coordinator at 909-798-7565 ext. 4138. READ MORE !

Ventura Co Library - County literacy program could lose state funding

County literacy program could lose state funding
VC Star: 2.11.11 by Kevin Clerici

A Ventura County literacy program that teaches some 250 adults to read each year would lose funding under the governor's proposed budget, and backers have launched a letter-writing campaign to legislators to try to minimize the cut.

Because the free tutoring program is staffed almost entirely by volunteers, it costs only about $35,000 a year to operate, making it cost-effective, proponents say.

Lack of literacy is the No. 1 cause of the high school dropout problem, experts say. People with low literacy skills typically are underemployed, pay less in taxes and need more public services. And families in which a parent reads poorly are more likely to have children with low literacy skills.

"These adult learners typically have no place else to turn for help," said Carol Chapman, literacy program manager.

Private instruction can be costly, she added. One learner sought private help and after completing an assessment was told it would cost him $8,000 in instruction to become proficient, Chapman said. In contrast, the county tutoring is all free and takes place in libraries, schools and community and jail facilities throughout the county.

Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget calls for the elimination of funding for public libraries ($30.4 million) and statewide literacy services ($4.6 million), except for the state library itself. It represents a tiny fraction of his plan to close a $26.5 billion shortfall.

Ventura County's library system received $150,000 in state funds last year to share among its 14 branches, as well as the $35,000 for literacy tutoring.

That's a far cry from the amount received during rosier fiscal years. In 2000, local libraries received $1.2 million from the state, records show.

Jackie Griffin, the county's chief librarian, believes if the state money is eliminated, the chances of getting it back in better economic times will be greatly reduced.

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The county library system has been offering the tutoring service since 1984, among the first to join the California Literacy Campaign. Additional funding over the years has come from collaborative agreements with the Ventura and Oxnard adult schools, various cities and the Sheriff's Department. State grants and donations from businesses and service organizations also have helped, but contributions have slowed due to the economy.

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Supporters hold annual fundraising events — the Gold Coast Ride for Literacy in April as well as the Trivia Challenge, which collectively raise about $3,000 to $6,000 each year. There is talk of doing more.

"We are open to all possibilities," Chapman said. READ MORE !

Santa Maria Library - Governor’s budget plan putting literacy on the line

Governor’s budget plan putting literacy on the line
Santa Maria Times: February 10, 2011 by Brian Bullock

When Eduardo Leyva moved to Santa Maria from Guadalajara a year and a half ago, he had never heard of Gov. Jerry Brown. But now he has a message for the newly elected governor: “Leave library programs alone.”

The governor’s 2011-12 budget proposal could completely eliminate state spending on public libraries, which could eliminate adult literacy programs.

Leyva, 25, is just one example of how such programs improve the lives of its residents.

When he arrived in town, the ambitious Leyva found a job washing dishes at a local restaurant, but he wanted more. He wanted to become a server at the restaurant, but his English wasn’t good enough to get him the job.

So Leyva went to the Central Coast Literacy Council, which provides tutoring services at the Santa Maria Public Library and several other study centers around the valley. Since then, he has worked two days a week with tutor Debbi Barclay to smooth out his rough, choppy English.

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According to the California Library Association, Leyva is one of more than 20,000 adults who participate in similar programs throughout the state. They are new immigrants or people who never finished their education.

The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL), last conducted in 2003, claims there are 11 million adults in the country who aren’t literate.

In that assessment, 22 percent of adults in Santa Barbara County were classified as below basic, meaning they could not perform such simple tasks as signing a form or adding numbers on a bank deposit slip.

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Leyva’s success is the perfect example of that. Emboldened by his success in the program, Leyva joined thousands of students across the state in writing letters to the governor supporting adult literacy programs, something he would have never considered before working with Barclay.

Now that Leyva has achieved his first goal of becoming a server, his next is to help others.

“We feel very happy having this kind of program here,” he said. “Next I want to become a tutor, like Debbi, helping people who need a little hand. I remember that once I was one of those people who needed help.” READ MORE !

PROPOSED CUTS TO LIBRARIES "NEEDS MORE SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS"

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Says:
Proposed Cuts to Libraries "Needs More Substantive Analysis"
Assemblymember Remarks, "These Cuts Cannot Stand."
News from the Capitol: February 8, 2011
by Mike Dillon; Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

Highlights of Feb 7 meeting . . . . .

The Subcommittee Chair, Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla started the hearing by noting, "For purposes of full disclosure, I am a former High School English teacher and I helped start the literacy program in Concord and Contra Costa County and the network."

Brief comments were then offered by the State Librarian, Stacey Aldrich and the Department of Finance representative.

Chairwoman Bonilla:
"Why were these programs slated for elimination instead of reduction?"
Finance:
merely looking to capture a dollar amount to help balance the Budget.
Chair:

"But that is a huge difference. This is elimination. Zeroing it out. This puts the federal dollars at risk." She then added, "In this entire Budget process, it is very important to understand the cuts in the context of the broader economy and the health and vitality of the state of California. It would be very helpful to understand the economic impacts of eliminating [literacy] money that is being used to put people in a working environment, which leads to more income tax. This is not a contrived argument - when you can't read you earn less. It would be helpful for the DOF to look at the economic impact."

Legislative Analyst's Office: in a process such as this you have to decide, "which are your better and worse choices. However, we haven't seen any logic that these programs should take such disproportionate hits."

~ Jane Light, San Jose Library Director (member CLA's Legislative Committee) testified to the importance of maintaining the CLSA funding and protecting the systems and resource sharing.

~ California Council For the Blind spoke in favor of the protection of the federal dollars that the state receives under CLSA, as a portion of the money funds the Braille and Talking Books program at the State Library.

Assemblyman Sandre Swanson said he had recently attended the dedication of a library in his district and stated that 400 families were in attendance as "the library is providing an important resource at this time." The Assemblyman said, "Every dollar and every cut is not the same. Kids and adults and literacy will suffer...The analysis has not been done. We can't move so quickly that we destroy institutions. These cuts cannot stand."

Assemblywoman Julia Brownley said that she felt that one of the important charges of the subcommittee would be to "protect the safety net to the degree we are able. The literacy programs are for people who want to help themselves, and we are also hearing from the blind community, a productive citizenry. To remove [the funding] seems inhumane." She added that a suggestion that libraries would charge upwards of $100 per library card if the CLSA funding and systems were decimated "is a line I don't want to cross."

Assemblyman Bill Berryhill called libraries "a tremendous resource for those who can't afford resources. Even those who can afford it - the library generates excitement for reading. People become great learners and great students."

Chairwoman Bonilla closed out the hearing by announcing that no vote would be taken on any of the items, and rather, they would be "held open" and revisited in about another week (3 caucuses have major policy retreats over the next 2 days; Capitol is fairly quiet this week).

She added, "You know, 'one library with 1,000 doors' is a remark that has been made by the library community to me. I am encouraged to hear the public comment today and the comments by committee members. It is incumbent on us to have a balanced approach. We can't avoid negative impacts [in this year's Budget].

But can we avoid devastation? . . . .Yes."

Assemblyman Sandre Swanson remarked that he had received 100 letters from constituents on the library funding issues. If you have not made the call, mailed the letter, or sent the fax to the members of the Budget Subcommittee, the legislative Leadership and the Budget Chairs and Vice Chairs yet, please do so today. READ MORE !

February 18, 2011 (All day)Assembly Budget Committee: Governor's 2011-2012 State Budget Proposal (CDCan)
Appears to be the final budget hearing before the full Assembly takes final action on the 2011-2012 state budget.

Your LETTERS, FAXES and telephone calls make a HUGE difference ! ! !

Save California Library Literacy: Feb 7 @ 9am

SAVE
CALIFORNIA LIBRARY LITERACY FUNDING

Assembly Budget Hearing: Feb 7 @ 9:00am (Listen Live)

Fax and Call This Morning

Federal Funding is also in Jeopardy

Assembly Budget Subcom – Rm 444, State Capitol

Your FAXES and telephone calls make a HUGE difference ! ! !

Listen to the hearing Watch the hearing

The Honorable Susan Bonilla, Chair
State Capitol, Room 2188 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2011
Fax: (916) 319-2111

The Honorable Bill Berryhill, Member
State Capitol, Room 3141 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2026
Fax: (916) 319-2126

The Honorable Julia Brownley , Member
State Capitol, Room 2163 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2041
Fax: (916) 319-2141

The Honorable Brian Nestande, Member
State Capitol, Room 4139 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2064
Fax: (916) 319-2164

The Honorable Sandre Swanson, Member
State Capitol, Room 6012 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2016
Fax: (916) 319-2116

Find your Assembly Member or State Senator

excerpts from the Senate Hearings ( Feb 1):

~ Stacey Aldrich, State Librarian, outlined the 3 programs to be eliminated.

~ Steve Boilard (Legislative Analyst Rep) . . . puzzling why Budget proposes the complete elimination . . . PLF has been around for 30 years . . . venerable program has suffered large cuts already . . . difference between fair share and elimination.

~ S. Bob Huff, Budget SubComm: which programs funds Talking Books for Blind ?
~ S Aldrich: dollars part of Federal Funding State receives . . . fully funded . . . but wouldn’t be able to support it without Federal funds.

~ Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist, explained fall-out that would occur . . . libraries are busier than ever . . . lead to ‘haves and the have-nots.’

~ Laura Seaholm, Project Second Chance, and Faye Combs, Learner Berkeley READS, spoke on behalf of literacy funding.

Senators riveted during Ms Combs testimony: of how she had “fallen through the cracks” of the school system, with no one then recognizing her inability to read. She noted that when her “grandchildren came along, I realized that I needed some help,” and she added that the literacy program has “opened so many doors for me.”

~ Deborah Doyle (CLA Legislative Comm Chair): devastating blow

~ Cindy Singer (SIEU721 LA County): “Often, there is standing room only, or people sitting on the floor. The library is also a safe zone for teens, who can’t be bullied by gangs there.”

Senator Bob Huff: “This is an area that is difficult to cut, particularly when compared to the cuts they have taken already.”

Chairwoman, Senator Carol Liu added, “I agree. A complete elimination is very difficult.”

Save California Library Literacy Funding UPDATE

SAVE

CALIFORNIA LIBRARY LITERACY FUNDING

Senate Budget Subcommittee #1 met yesterday.
UPDATE from: Laura Seaholm
Program Manager, Project Second Chance

In attendance were Senators Liu, Huff and Wright. A total of 8 library representatives spoke yesterday (including Stacey Aldrich, Margaret Todd, Deborah Doyle, Faye Combs, and myself). Everyone did a great job advocating for CLSA, Literacy and PLF. In particular, I want to commend Faye Combs, an adult learner from the Berkeley Reads program. Faye was WONDERFUL!! The Senators were riveted as she talked about her struggles with reading, how she found help from the library, and how she and her family have been transformed as a result of learning to read.

The Senators appeared to be attentive and supportive during the other presentations as well, and they took notes from time to time. They did not ask any questions, but I believe that is in large part due to the GREAT job our lobbyists (the Dillons) have done in educating them and laying out a compelling message during earlier pre-meetings.

The next step is Budget Subcommittee meeting #2 on Monday, February 7th (listen live) at 9:00 a.m. Many of the people who spoke yesterday will be back! And this time we'll have a little practice under our belts! :)

Your letters and telephone calls have and continue to make a HUGE difference!!! Our presentations carry much more weight if our representatives are being bombarded by our show of support! In case you don't have the names and numbers of those we will be presenting to on Monday, see below.

Thank you again, and GO LITERACY!!!

Hearings Schedule: Write - Call - Fax - email
Federal Funding is also in Jeopardy
Feb 7 – 9:00am: Assembly Budget Subcom – Rm 444, State Capitol

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
The Honorable Susan Bonilla, Chair
State Capitol, Room 2188 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2011
Fax: (916) 319-2111

The Honorable Bill Berryhill, Member
State Capitol, Room 3141 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2026
Fax: (916) 319-2126

The Honorable Julia Brownley , Member
State Capitol, Room 2163 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2041
Fax: (916) 319-2141

The Honorable Brian Nestande, Member
State Capitol, Room 4139 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2064
Fax: (916) 319-2164

The Honorable Sandre Swanson, Member
State Capitol, Room 6012 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2016
Fax: (916) 319-2116

Find your Assembly Member or State Senator

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841