News from Illinois Library Association

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Issue: # 2

December 10, 2008

Welcome to the second issue of the Illinois Library Association e-newsletter. This issue has a heavy focus on economic concerns.

In these turbulent and challenging times, ILA is deepening its commitment to advocate the central role of libraries particularly now. As you will read, ILA is speaking to our state and federal officials and we encourage you to voice your concerns, too.

Like most organizations, ILA is changing and adapting. This e-newsletter is just one example of a new service. It will allow ILA to reduce our design, printing, and mailing costs, thus reducing the association's environmental footprint. It is our intention to incorporate in the e-newsletter the following ILA Reporter sections: In the News, Announcements, Committee and Forum News, and the Calendar.

While reducing our expenses, we are dedicated to producing a slimmer, better, and more colorful and thought-provoking ILA Reporter. The 2009 lead articles will highlight exemplary Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA) grants with the goal of inspiring librarians to say, "We can do that!" In fact, Illinois libraries are a fertile ground of experimentation with more LSTA grants than any other state in the nation. These projects benefit not only the individual grantees, but build a stronger foundation for all libraries that are inspired by these models of excellence and innovation, refining and adapting them to their own use. We are excited about these changes --- our new e-newsletter and the ILA Reporter's new look debuting with the February 2009 issue --- and as always, your comments and suggestions are encouraged.

ILA Urges Full Funding to Meet Statutory Obligations

In the current budget year, the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Rod R. Blagojevich failed to appropriate sufficient amounts to even fund the current state statutory obligations for library grant programs. We greatly appreciate Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian White's efforts last session in seeking additional funding for these grant programs, and ILA is requesting that the Illinois General Assembly and Governor appropriate full funding to meet their statutory obligations. In this request, we are not asking for new programmatic funding, rather we are asking for the state to fund at the levels promised by law.

·   For the public library equalization grants and per capita grants, this amounts to a $784,625 increase ($1.25 per capita or $459,625, and $325,000 for the public library equalization grants, based on the levels set in PA 95-976);
·   For school libraries, the increase we are requesting is $178,000 (75 cents per student); and
·   For library systems, the amount we are requesting is $2,566,508 ($1.46 per capita and $50.75 per square mile served).

ILA Urges Libraries Be Included in Federal Economic Stimulus Package

Friday, 5 December 2008

Dear President-elect Obama;

Congratulations and thank you.

On behalf of the Illinois Library Association and its 3,000 members, congratulations on your election and thank you for your years of support in the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Senate.

Thank you also for remembering and reminding the American public about the importance of libraries and the struggles we are currently facing. The Illinois library community was delighted to read your remarks at the recent National Governor's Meeting in Philadelphia. There is a critical need for an economic stimulus package to get the American economy moving and get people back to work. And you are correct: "Jobs are being cut. Programs for the needy are at risk. Libraries are being closed."

You understand the critical importance of libraries at all times, but especially in tough economic times like now. In fact, you turned to the resources of the New York Public Library to find employment. So too, Illinois residents depend on their libraries for important, basic life and economic skills, whether they are students, job seekers, parents, or new Americans. Click here for the full leter.

ILA Urges Illinois Library Community to Write Their Federal Legislators

Friday, 5 December 2008

Dear Senator Durbin:

On behalf of the Illinois Library Association and its 3,000 members, I am writing to request that you encourage your colleagues who are working on an economic stimulus bill to include library services so that Illinois libraries will be included.

As you examine strategies to stimulate the economy and create jobs, it is our hope you will keep in mind the critical services libraries provide across the state. Libraries help Illinois citizens get jobs, serve small businesses, contribute to community economic development, and provide free public access to computers and the Internet. Simply put, libraries provide our communities with free services that will help our unemployed find jobs and stimulate our economy. Click here for the full letter and ACT now. Write to your representative!

Public Agenda for Higher Education in Illinois

Digital Information Fluency and Information Technology Skills in Secondary and Postsecondary Levels of Education Included

As the Illinois General Assembly deals with the economic challenges of the next few years, this document will influence their decisions about policies and funding for education. The inclusion of digital information fluency and information technology skills as areas for investment assures school, community college, university, and public librarians that we will have an opportunity to bring our professional expertise to the bear on those decisions. The public agenda passed on Tuesday, 9 December 2008. Click here for the PDF document.

In the News

Sincerely,

Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association

Disclaimer: Links to non-ILA sites have been provided because these sites may have information of interest. The Illinois Library Association does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites; and furthermore, ILA does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites.