We are coming up on the deadline for Congressional Representatives to sign this year’s letters in support of federal library funding. As you probably know, the White House budget for the coming fiscal year removed all federal funds for libraries, so it’s up to us to tell Congress to put the funds back in. Right now, one letter is circulating in support of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and one for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program.
As an update, we currently have 84 signatures on LSTA, and 49 for IAL. Last year, we were able to get over 140 signatures for both letters. We can do it again, but we need your help!
With the deadline coming up – March 19th! – I’d like to ask your help in getting the word out about this campaign. ALA is maintaining a list of Reps who have signed at ala.org/fundlibraries. Please take a moment today to find out if your Rep has signed, and email their office via this quick form if not. You can also Tweet or call. And then help us spread the word by encouraging others to do the same! If they have signed, send them a quick thanks.
-Beth Yoke
P.S. Stay up to date on federal funds for libraries via ALA’s District Dispatch blog
