From: mgolrick@brdgprtpl.lib.ct.us (Michael Golrick) To: "CONNTECH" <conntech@csuweb.ctstateu.edu> Subject: [CONNTECH] FW: Message from John W. Berry (ALA President)
-----Original Message-----
From: John W. Berry [mailto:emailrobot@ala.org]
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2001 1:38 pm
To: mgolrick@brdgprtpl.lib.ct.us
Subject: Message from John W. Berry
ALA Members and Friends:
The Library Services and Technology Act, LSTA, the only federal legislation
that funds libraries exclusively, needs to be reauthorized by Congress
before September 30, 2002. The American Library Association (ALA) is
working with many other library groups to assure that LSTA continues to
provide federal dollars to serve as a catalyst for change in libraries
nationwide.
The coalition is proposing minor changes that will improve library services
while creating a sound and effective legislative strategy to encourage
Congress to approve reauthorization as quickly as possible. Your assistance
in helping us achieve these goals is both critical and greatly appreciated.
A reauthorized LSTA will remain flexible, and each community will decide how
to best use the money to leverage state and local funds. The proposed bill
encourages all types of libraries to make use of this funding, but raises
the authorization to $500 million. This means that more funds will be
available for state-based grants and local programs, National Leadership
Grants, and grants to Native American libraries. I think we all agree that
this increased funding is essential to enable libraries to provide a range
of new services to our user communities.
I encourage each of you to reach out to at least two library users in your
community and ask them to contact your Member of Congress and both Senators.
We really need library patrons to educate Congress on how important a
reauthorized Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) is to their local
communities.
A brochure has been created to assist you in the effort of getting this very
important bill passed. You can find it at
http://www.ala.org/washoff/LSTAbroch.pdf. We encourage you to download the
brochure and distribute it to your library users and advocates. For further
information and help getting started, visit the new LSTA web site at:
http://www.ala.org/washoff/lsta.html
Thank you in advance for your time and assistance on this very important
federal library funding initiative.
Sincerely,
John W. Berry
President
The American Library Association
2001-02
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