Federal budget threats targeted at library programs dominated the discussions May 9 during the briefing day preceding this year’s National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) held by the American Library Association’s Washington Office, but the 361 NLLD participants who came to Washington, D.C., were not deterred by the uncertainty in the Capitol.
“I think it makes it that much more important to be here and get the message out,” Interim West Virginia State Librarian Karen Goff said, referring to the FY2011 budget cuts to the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the consolidation of the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program, and the fear that more cuts for libraries may be on the horizon for FY2012.
“If we do nothing, we can’t expect anything,” Goff added.
Under the current FY2011 budget, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) received a 10.7% cut from FY2010 levels. The FY2011 funding for IMLS totaled $237.4 million, down $28 million from FY2010—not including the $16 million IMLS lost when all federal earmarks were eliminated from the FY2011 budget. The cut to LSTA this fiscal year is $24,487,678, for a total appropriation of $189 million.
For FY2012, ALA is asking Congress to fund LSTA at $232 million—the level last authorized in December 2010—and to preserve a distinct budget line for the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program and appropriate the program at its FY2010 level of $19.1 million.
Sharing specifics, succinctly
Cathy Wojewodski, a reference librarian from the University of Delaware and an NLLD veteran, knew the fight for LSTA funding would be the “biggest challenge” at this year’s legislative day.
She said her group’s strategy regarding FY2012 appropriations was to “hit LSTA hard” while meeting with her state’s delegation—which includes a new senator and a new member of the House—and to clearly tell them what LSTA funding means to Delaware and how supporting technology in libraries benefits everyone.
That strategy of sharing specifics was echoed throughout the briefing day, during which advocates heard about the top federal issues impacting libraries from ALA Washington Office staff as well as ALA consultants Vic Klatt and Danica Petroshius, partners at Penn Hill Group. Klatt is former chief of staff for Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) and Petroshius was chief of staff for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.).
Mike Gentile, legislative staffer for the Senate Appropriations Committee, provided a briefing on the appropriations and budget process, emphasizing that FY2012 is “not quite a normal year” and that the Appropriations Committee cannot move forward until a decision over raising the national debt limit is made.
Despite the uncertainty, briefing-day speakers encouraged library advocates to continue their efforts beyond their meetings with congressional leaders during NLLD to ensure libraries are part of the discussion—particularly regarding reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
“The administration has to be pushed to not further erode their commitment to education,” Petroshius said. ALA is lobbying to secure language in ESEA that calls for every school library to be staffed by a state-certified school librarian, among other provisions.
On May 10, NLLD advocates swarmed Capitol Hill to share the appropriations and ESEA messages along with other top concerns. They were armed with their personal stories and extra encouragement from Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who had received a Public Service Award from ALA’s Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations at a NLLD reception the previous evening.
“This is the time for LSTA to be robustly funded,” Grijalva told reception attendees.
NLLD advocates couldn’t have put it any better.
For information about all of ALA’s federal legislative priorities, view the briefing materials from ALA's Office of Government Relations at the National Library Legislative Day website and view the Flickr stream of this year’s activities. To become involved with federal advocacy, sign up for action alerts distributed through the ALA Legislative Action Center .
JENNI TERRY is press officer for ALA’s Washington Office.
