Illinois Library Association
Vol. 6, Issue:  20| May 31, 2013
Illinois General Assembly Spring 2013 Session Adjourned Just an Hour Ago
 
The Illinois General Assembly adjourned the Spring 2013 session late tonight after approving the fiscal 2014 State Budget.  ILA is extremely pleased to report that the budget includes $3.7 million in additional funding for public library per capita and equalization grants!  School libraries and library systems also received level funding for the next fiscal year avoiding any further cuts.  We have many legislators to thank for supporting library funding, and ILA will provide information in the future on how best to recognize those legislators who worked so hard to support us.

The Illinois General Assembly, however, failed to pass state pension reforms.  ILA supported Senate Bill 2404 that would have permitted state employees, state university employees and local school teachers to choose whether they wanted to retain current pension benefits and lose retiree health care coverage, or accept lower pension benefits and retain retiree health care coverage.  This legislation would also have guaranteed that the state would make future pension payments.  ILA supported this legislation because it sought to constitutionally balance employee choice with a significant reduction in the state's unfunded pension liability.  While this legislation passed the Illinois Senate, it was never called for a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives.

The House did pass an amended version of Senate Bill 1 that mandated employee benefit reductions without employee choice.  ILA opposed Senate Bill 1, and it failed in a final vote in the Senate.  The Governor is expected to call the legislative leaders together soon to continue negotiations on state pension reform.  If an agreement is reached between the two chambers, legislators would return to Springfield to vote on the proposal.  In light of the failure to pass pension reform, the state's credit rating is very likely to be further damaged.

The Illinois General Assembly also passed a comprehensive statewide firearm concealed carry bill.  House Bill 183 passed both chambers by wide margins.  This legislation requires applicants for concealed carry to pay fees, undergo a background check and complete 16 hours of firearms training.  The legislation lists many locations where firearms are prohibited. Among these locations are schools, community colleges, universities, and public libraries.  Other prohibited sites are daycare centers, bars, parks and playgrounds, and government buildings.  The Governor has not said if he will sign this legislation.

In addition to pension reform, the General Assembly also did not ultimately pass legislation ensuring Marriage Equality or gaming expansion, but both issues are expected to be revisited in the Fall Veto Session.

While the commentary on this session is likely to be that the legislature failed to meet many of the challenges before them, this has been a very successful session for the library community.  Not only did state funding increase, but attempts to reduce local property tax revenues were defeated. Finally, no legislation adversely affecting intellectual freedom was seriously considered.  Thank you to all ILA members who advocated on behalf of libraries this session and are responsible for this year's success!

Disaster Assistance Due to Severe Storms and Flooding

On May 10, U.S. President Barack Obama made a declaration of major disaster for Illinois in the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, Will,  Bureau, Crawford, Henderson, Knox, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford due to severe storms and flooding.

 DisasterAssistance.gov is available for survivors to apply online or by mobile phone for disaster assistance.  

 

Fact sheets available at this website could be used at local libraries in the affected area as 

-          screen savers and background screens for public computers   

-          posted on public bulletin board

-          e-mail blast to patrons of that particular library

-          Share on Facebook and Twitter

In the News 
Library-related stories appearing in local news media are reflected in this section of the ILA E-Newsletter.  The intent is to alert and inform the Illinois library community about issues and events that are considered significant by the general media.  


If your library has a newspaper story with link, send it to us at
[email protected] for possible inclusion in the next ILA E-Newsletter.  Thanks
 
Downers Grove Library Design Go Forward  
To read this story, please click here.
 

Chicago State University Exploring Bid for Obama Presidential Library
To read this story, please
click here.    
 
Newly Renovated Vernon Library to Offer Comfort, New Equipment
To read this story, please click here. 

District 41 Debates Reinstating Banned Book, Parent Notification
To read this story, please click here.

Trailer:  Documentary Tackles the Future of the Book
To view this video, please
Out of Print (outofprintthemovie.com) Documentary Film Tribeca Film Festival 2013 
Out of Print (outofprintthemovie.com) Documentary Film Tribeca Film Festival 2013
.


Google's Schmidt, Cohen Describe a 'New Digital Age'

To view this video, please
Google's Schmidt, Cohen Describe a 'New Digital Age' 
Google's Schmidt, Cohen Describe a 'New Digital Age'
.

Hamil Shelves 19 Years at Glencoe Library
To read this story, please click here.

Wauconda Area Library Adds New State-of-the Art e Book Service
To read this story, please click here. 
Sincerely,
 

Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association
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CALENDAR
June 20, 2013
Deadline for August issue of the ILA Reporter.

Guidelines for Submissions to the ILA Reporter.

June 14, 2013
ILA Executive Board Meeting, 10:00 a.m., ILA, Chicago

July 24, 2013
BLOGS
NEWS SOURCES

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