Librarians Take On Capitol Hill
Library supporters stump for youth services on National Legislative Day
By Donna Liquori -- School Library Journal, 6/1/2004
Librarians and business leaders joined teens from Virginia, Oregon, New Jersey, and Indiana in urging legislators to boost funding for the Improving Literacy through School Libraries Act to $100 million from its current $19.8 million. Once that happens, the program—which falls under NCLB—will turn from a competitive grant into a state block grant.
"Our message got out," says Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association's (ALA) Washington office, which cosponsored National Library Legislative Day along with the District of Columbia Library Association. "Hopefully, they were listening."
To date, 95 percent of Improving Literacy through School Libraries grant recipients have reported that their reading scores have risen. However, in fiscal year 2003, only a measly 73 out of 824 qualified applicants received funds.
Meanwhile, Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Rep. Bernie Sanders, (I-VT) were honored for their public service to libraries. The lawmakers delivered speeches emphasizing their commitment to fight against the USA Patriot Act, the antiterrorism law that gives FBI agents the authority to view library and bookstore records.
