From: Gloria Meraz [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 5:40 PM To: Public Libraries Division Subject: [pld] library funding--the final phase is here Importance: High
We are now in the last phase of budget negotiations. Library supporters are urged to contact legislators to gather support for funding for library programs. It is now or never for library resource sharing (TexShare and K-12 databases) funding. And, we must try and secure the highest amount for Loan Star and Systems. CALL TO ACTION on SB 1 What to ask for? We are asking for the SB 1 Conference Committee to: 1) fund library resource sharing in the State Library's budget (Article I). Both the House and Senate designated funding for library resource sharing (which includes TexShare and the K-12 databases) in Article XI. Without an increase of at least $2.5 mil, K-12 kids, college students, and the public will lose some access to existing resources! Without an increase to match program cost increases over the next two years, our public will face cuts in services! 2) take the House recommendations for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's budget (in Article I) for Direct Aid: Loan Star Libraries ($4.7 mil) and Regional Systems ($2 mil). 3) take other House and Senate recommendations for other exceptional items for the State Library, including the Talking Book Program, salary equity, and the expansion of the state archives. What to say? Make the case for library programs. Explain, in your own words, why these library programs are needed and what benefit they have for constituents back home. Who to email? 1. Your own representative and senator. To find who represents you and for contact information, go to: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/. 2. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst: http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact.php (fill in the contact form) 3. Speaker Joe Straus: [email protected] 4. If you personally know one of the conference committee members below, please contact them. Conference Committee members For contact information, House (http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Members/Members.aspx?Chamber=H) and Senate (http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Members/Members.aspx?Chamber=S) Sen. Steve Ogden (co-chair) Sen. Chuy Hinojosa Sen. Florence Shapiro Sen. Royce West Sen. Tommy Williams Rep. Jim Pitts (co-chair) Rep. Ruth McClendon Rep. John Otto Rep. Richard Raymond Rep. John Zerwas ******************************************************* TLA-Texline is an irregular publication of the Texas Library Association mailed directly to members interested in legislative and governmental issues affecting libraries. To subscribe, contact Gloria Meraz, Director of Communications, Texas Library Association, [email protected]. Gloria Meraz Director of Communications Texas Library Association 3355 Bee Cave Road, Ste. 401 Austin, TX 78746 512/328-1518; 800/580-2852 (fax)512/328-8852 www.txla.org ******************************************************* You are currently subscribed to pld as: [email protected]. Subscription is automatic, based on member preferences. If you would like to be removed from all of your unit distribution lists, please update your membership setting "I do not want to be automatically subscribed to my Unit electronic distribution list(s)" via the Modify Membership Information/Choices found in the Members Only Section of www.txla.org.
