CLA 2022
Legislative Priorities
CLA News: 3.23.2022
The
California Library Association — through its
members and advocates — works to make a difference for all Californians by
providing adequately funded libraries, which transform lives through their
programs and services.
At
the state level, CLA actively advocates for the following:
New and Ongoing Funding Requests
➤ $1.4
million to reach $5,000,000 in ongoing funding for the California Library
Services Act
(CLSA) that fosters resource sharing among libraries, particularly in rural
areas where funding challenges persist.
➤ $450,000
to reach $1,250,000 in ongoing funding for Lunch at the Library to provide
literacy-rich programs to blunt the impact of the summer slide for children who
receive 300,000+ free and nutritious lunches at hundreds of libraries across
the state.
➤ $785,000
for JobNow, VetNow, and LearnNow, to support economic
recovery and education for vulnerable populations.
➤ Maintain
ongoing funding to support the diverse informational needs of people in rural
and underserved populations who cannot get to a physical library through Zip Books.
➤ $4
million dollars in funding to support Ebooks for All aimed at increasing
access to digital content for early learners and school-aged children
throughout California.
Equitable
Access to Critical Library and Information Services
◉ Broadband equity for unserved and
underserved communities.
◉ Support
the freedom to read and access to material with diverse points of view.
◉ Accessible
buildings, including upgrades to critical infrastructure and support in times
of disaster such as wildfires and extreme heat.
◉ Early
literacy, school readiness, adult literacy, career development, vocational
support, and assistance to vulnerable populations.
◉ Mandate
credentialed Teacher Librarians in all California Public Schools.
◉ Support
for libraries to purchase eBooks and e-audiobooks at the same price as
consumers.
