Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:24:11 -0700
From: Diedre Conkling <[email protected]>
Subject: [Publib] Fwd: [District Dispatch] ALA: Omnibus provides
additional funding to libraries, will assist with
recession-induced
boon in usage
To: libs-or <[email protected]>,
[email protected]
ALA: Omnibus provides additional funding to libraries, will assist with
recession-induced boon in usage
<http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=2313> March 11th, 2009
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=2313
Bill contains increase to Grants to State Library Agencies program
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
March 11, 2009
Contact: Jenni Terry <[email protected]>
*WASHINGTON, D.C.* - The American Library Association (ALA) says the FY
2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which passed the Senate last night and
was signed into law by President Obama this afternoon, is a victory for
libraries.
The $410 billion spending bill, which includes the nine unfinished
appropriations bills from last year, contains $171,500,000 for the
Grants to State Library Agencies program within the Library Services and
Technology Act (LSTA). This funding level is an increase of over $10
million from last year and also allows for full implementation of a 2003
law to provide a more equitable distribution of state formula grants.
ALA President Jim Rettig said this additional state funding will provide
much-needed assistance to our nation's libraries that are experiencing a
spike in usage during the recession.
*"Last year, libraries hosted more than 1.3 billion visits and are now
averaging 175 million visits a month,"* Rettig said.
*"As Americans deal with the weakened economy, they are turning to their
libraries more and more - not just for no-fee access to the Internet and
free books, CDs and DVDs - but also for assistance with online job
searching, resume building, 21st century job skills training, and
e-government. We want to thank Congress and the White House for
recognizing the need to fund libraries at the full level of the LSTA,
especially during this time when Americans need their libraries more
than ever."*
Rettig credited many members of Congress with working to ensure this
funding was secured, and he especially thanked U.S. Sen. Jack Reed
(D-RI), whose leadership was essential to reaching this funding level.
*"Libraries have always been a place where the community can come
together, a source of common ground,"* Reed said.
*"Today, more and more job seekers are turning to libraries for
assistance in their search. I have long advocated for this funding level
because it is the amount necessary to reach a key goal included in the
2003 reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act that I
authored to double the minimum State allotment. This additional funding
will help libraries respond to the growing demand for free access to all
types of services and new technology."*
The spending bill also included $607 million for the Library of
Congress, which includes $29 million to complete the transition of the
Digital Talking Books program for the blind. A chart with selected
program funding levels for libraries can be found
here<http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/f
y-2009-request-chart1.pdf>
.
For more information on how libraries are helping Americans during the
recession, go to www.ala.org/economynews.
--
Diedre Conkling
[email protected]
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Laurie Mahaffey, Deputy Director
Central Texas Library System, Inc.
1005 West 41st Street
Austin, Texas 78756
www.ctls.net
[email protected]
512-583-0704 x18
800-262-4431 x18
