Support Library Funding
Contact your U.S.
Senators and Reps Today
by going to the Legislative Action
Center and urge them to support funding in FY
2015 for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative
Approaches to Literacy (IAL).
There are currently
two letters circulating in the House of Representatives and the Senate. One letter (a letter in the House and a in the Senate) is asking for support of
the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the FY 2015 Appropriations bill. The other
letter (a letter in the House and a in the Senate) is asking for support for
the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program also in the FY 2015
Appropriations bill. To find out if your legislators have signed one of
the letters this year, view this chart (pdf). If not please contact
him/her and encourage them to do so. If your Senator or Representative
has signed one of these letters, please thank him/her for their support of
libraries.
Read below for
some background information on LSTA and IAL.
LSTA
Is the primary source
of annual funding for libraries in the federal budget. The bulk of this
program is a population-based grant funded to each state through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Each state determines how
they will allocate their LSTA funds, often relying upon this money to provide
job searching databases, resume workshops, summer reading projects, and so much
more. In addition, LSTA also supports:
•Native American and
Native Hawaiian Library Services to support improved access to library services
for Native Americans, Alaska Native Villages, and Native Hawaiians
•National Leadership
Grants to support activities of national significance that enhances the quality
of library services nationwide and provide coordination between libraries and
museums
•Laura Bush 21st
Century Librarians which is used to help develop and promote the next
generation of librarians.
IAL
From 2002 to 2010,
the Improving Literacy through School Libraries program had been the primary
source of federal funding for school libraries. However, in recent years
the President and U.S. Congress have consolidated or zero-funded this
program. ALA gives a special thanks to Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad
Cochran (R-MS) who recognized that school libraries need a direct funding
source in the federal budget. In FY 2012, through report language in the Labor,
Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill, the two
redirected money to the U.S. Department of Education to create the IAL program.
With Improving Literacy through School
Libraries being defunded, IAL has taken over as the primary source of federal
funding for school libraries. Focusing on low income schools, these funds
help many schools bring their school libraries up to standards. This money is not enough to help every school library, but it
does help some with updating materials and equipment, allowing children from
disadvantaged areas to have opportunities to become college and career ready.
