Webinar video now available – Legislative Process and How You Can Make a Difference

A video is now available online for the February 27^th webinar entitled “The Legislative Process and You: How it Works and How to Make a Difference.” The slides are also available.

Maryland Library Legislative Day 2012 was a success!

This year’s Maryland Library Legislative Day was again a success! Participants from all types of libraries met with legislators and aides in Annapolis to advocate for libraries. Libraries were recognized on the floor of both the Senate and the House of Delegates. Audio recordings of the proceedings in both houses, including the resolution and declaration of Maryland Library Day, may be downloaded from the Maryland General Assembly’s web site. (Select the proceedings for January 25^th. The declaration in the Senate is about four minutes in; the declaration in the House is about 14 minutes in.)

Over 140 people attended the evening’s reception, including Senate President Mike Miller and 28 other elected officials, as well as Bernard Sadusky, Interim State Superintendent of Schools, and Alexander Sanchez, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR). Many thanks to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this event!

Free webinar on the Legislative Process and How You Can Make a Difference

The American Library Association’s Washington Office is offering a free webinar entitled “The Legislative Process and You: How it Works and How to Make a Difference” on Monday, February 27^th from 4:00-5:00pm. Stephanie Vance, the Advocacy Guru, will explain how to be engaged throughout the legislative process. Participants will leave with a plan to implement new ideas.

For more information, including a link to register, please see the District Dispatch post.

 

President’s FY 13 Budget includes little support for literacy

The President’s FY 13 budget proposal released on Monday contains very little support for literacy. Support was reduced for the Fund for Improvement of Education (FIE), which provides books, technology services and critical learning programs to at-risk children. The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (ILTSL) program has again been consolidated with five other literacy programs to compete for funding. See the District Dispatch post for a statement from the American Library Association President Molly Raphael.

LSTA Level-funded in President’s FY 2013 budget proposal

The Library Services and Technology Act has (LSTA) been level-funded in the budget proposal that President Obama released yesterday. The proposal allocates $187.4 million to LSTA—the same amount as the current year. In light of the current budget situation, the American Library Association (ALA) is calling this a sign that the administration recognizes the importance of libraries. See the District Dispatch post for a statement from Molly Raphael, ALA President.

White House Petition for School Libraries exceeds 25,000 signatures

Just after 10:30am on January 31^st, the number of signatures reached 25,000 on the White House Petition for School Libraries. By the deadline of February 4^th, there were 27,400 signatures. Now the Obama administration will assign experts to the topic and issue an official response. (See the earlier blog post for more information about the petition.) A School Library Journal article discusses this successful advocacy effort.

Many thanks to everyone who signed the online petition!

Legislative Panel Meeting Minutes, 9/2/2011 & 11/4/2011

The Minutes from the Legislative Panel’s Meetings on September 2, 2011 and November 4, 2011 are now available. The December meeting was canceled.