From GSLIANN: May 9-10, Washington, DC – ALA needs our voices!
As you recall, in mid-February U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ-5) introduced an amendment to H.R. 1 that would eliminate all funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) including funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the primary source of federal dollars to libraries. This amendment was defeated because of the overwhelming number of messages to Congress that library advocates sent to their representatives.
This is only the beginning of our fight to protect LSTA funding, as libraries will continue to be threatened in this Congress. Now more than ever, we need your participation in ALA’s National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C., on May 9-10, 2011. As a participant in this event, you will have the opportunity to meet with your members of Congress and explain to them why cutting library funding would be short-sighted. Studies have shown that the number one way that members of Congress are influenced is by face-to-face meetings with their constituents. For additional information and to register for NLLD, please go to www.ala.org/nlld.
On May 9, library advocates receive a day of briefings and have the opportunity to attend a Congressional reception on Capitol Hill where they can socialize with members of Congress and their staffs. The next day, library advocates will meet with their senators and representatives to talk about key library issues.
We hope you can find time to attend this crucial event. If you have any questions, please call Kristin Murphy at (800) 941-8478 .
Kristin Murphy
Government Relations Specialist
American Library Association – Washington Office
1615 New Hampshire Ave. NW, First Floor
Washington, D.C., 20009-2520
Phone Number: 202.628.8410
Take action for libraries! Visit our Legislative Action Center at http://bit.ly/legaction
I wonder what effect the representatives who are in favor of cutting funding think will come from this. It’s the same as cutting funding to education–how can the future of America thrive when the resources they need to succeed in school and research are cut? I really hope the voices of those who support libraries will make these individuals see the impact their funding cut will have.
I certainly hope that many library supporters go out to support the funding. It saddens me to hear about the cuts in funding, why is library funding overlooked? A stand needs to be taken, we need to continue this fight today and in the future.
Hopefully, people will come out in droves on May 9th to support LSTA funding. Goodluck!