Author Archive: Kevin Maher

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to Invest in Libraries graphic, with red and white text on black background

Library Advocates Stay in Motion

February 10 may feel like 100 years ago, but that date marked—for a fourth consecutive year—the administration’s threat to eliminate all library funding from the federal budget. As ever, library advocates responded with emphatic determination. The annual campaign to gather support for the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program began with ALA’s annual fly-in, the timing of which aligned with the … Continue reading Library Advocates Stay in Motion →

Advocates in Motion to #FundLibraries

For the fourth year in a row, the Trump administration has called for the elimination of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), currently funded at $195.4 million, and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL), a school library-eligible program through the Department of Education, currently funded at $27 million. Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Susan Collins … Continue reading Advocates in Motion to #FundLibraries →

Fund Libraries: Tell Congress to Invest in Libraries graphic

Library Advocates Deliver

By Kevin Maher | April 12, 2019

The annual campaign to gather support for the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program began with the congressional appropriations process in March, prime time for advocates to tell members of Congress about the important library programs supported by federal funding. With the Institute of Museum and Library … Continue reading Library Advocates Deliver →

Museum and Library Services Act Stalls in House

By Kevin Maher | December 14, 2018

In closed-door meetings in November, the House and Senate negotiated a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to move MLSA (S. 3530) forward. The Senate, with the assent of the library community, accepted changes requested by the House Republican majority prior to the bill passing the Senate on December 4 by unanimous consent. In return, the House committed … Continue reading Museum and Library Services Act Stalls in House →

Subcommittee Calls for Library Funding Increases

By Kevin Maher | September 14, 2018

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): $2 million increase Title IV-Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act: $70 million increase National Library of Medicine: $13 million increase Career and technical education state grants: $70 million increase Adult education state grants: $25 million increase Head Start: $200 million increase Level funding was provided for … Continue reading Subcommittee Calls for Library Funding Increases →

Next Steps to Fund Libraries

By Kevin Maher | March 7, 2018

The following excerpt originally appeared March 6 on District Dispatch, the blog of the American Library Association’s Washington Office. Read the full post at District Dispatch. The White House budget proposal for FY2019 recommends the elimination of most federal library funding. Though the budget proposal is concerning, Congress has the final say over the budget. Starting today, two … Continue reading Next Steps to Fund Libraries →

Help preserve funding for the LSTA and IAL

Fight Cuts to Library Services

By Kevin Maher | March 10, 2016

While the American Library Association (ALA) is working in Washington to protect critical library funding, members of Congress respond best when they hear from their constituents. Take a few minutes to call, email, or even tweet your representative and both of your senators to request that they add their names to two letters supporting LSTA … Continue reading Fight Cuts to Library Services →

Latest Library Links

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Though the daily news is filled with reports of climate change, severe weather, environmental distress, and endangered species, children’s librarians and educators might be uncertain how to incorporate these topics into their current curriculum. Christine M. Kirker’s 25 Projects for Eco Explorers, published by ALA Editions, presents more than two dozen ready-to-use projects on environmental topics that can be integrated into K–5 educational lesson plans and library programming for children aged 4–10.
ALA Editions, July 13
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The Library Leadership and Management Association’s PR Xchange Committee has announced the winners of this year’s PR Xchange Awards Competition. This year, there were 25 “born digital” winners and 25 “originally print” winners. A complete listing of this year’s winners is available at bit.ly/2020-PRXchangeAwards
LLAMA, July 9
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Deborah Takahashi writes: “Teen library staff has the opportunity to provide teens with a safe space to open up about their feelings and provide them with resources to educate and empower themselves. Sadly, BIPOC youth face a variety of factors that may prevent them from discussing their mental health to accessing care, and that is where libraries can help.”
YALSA Blog, July 12
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In a July 13 statement, the Public Library Association called on public library workers to commit to structural change and to take action to end systemic racism and injustice. PLA thanked members of its Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice for its guidance and leadership in development of this statement and call to action.
PLA, July 13
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Melissa Sokol writes: “In light of the pandemic my library system had to adapt our Summer Reading Program, which means the kids are not able to pick out their own prize books. While I am limited to what is in our stock pile when awarding prize books, I am starting to explore what I can offer these fans of made-up worlds and futures that feature people from diverse backgrounds as main characters.”
ALSC Blog, July 13
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Core Virtual Forum, November 18 and 20, has announced its keynote speakers, Meredith D. Clark and Sofia Leung. Clark is a journalist, assistant professor in media studies at University of Virginia, and faculty affiliate at the Center on Digital Culture and Society at University of Pennsylvania. Leung is a librarian, facilitator, and educator offering tailored workshops, training, consultations, coaching, and collaborations that employ antiracist, antioppressive frameworks.
LITA, July 13
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Robert Ambrogi writes: “Recent years have seen an unprecedented surge in the use of technology and artificial intelligence within the legal profession, and the betting money says the pandemic will only further accelerate that surge. With that comes both opportunities and challenges for law libraries. As technology and AI push the boundaries of legal research and knowledge management, some may wonder, ‘Is the future of the law librarian threatened by a robot revolution?’”
Above the Law, July 13

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