[NFBC-Info] Fwd: [IMLS Funding for Federal FY21] Important Appropriations Letter Update

Thu Mar 12 19:08:06 UTC 2020

Hi All,

Please see the message below from Mike Marlin about continued funding
for the Braille and Talkingbook Library. Please use the link in his
email to send letters to ask our US Senators to appropriate money for
the grant that impacts the Braille and Talkingbook Library. His letter
explains more and provides a link to an action center where you can
make your voices heard.

Thank you.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Mike L. Marlin" <mmarlin33.3 at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2020 11:39:23 -0700
Subject: [IMLS Funding for Federal FY21] Important Appropriations Letter Update
To: Maile <maileg921 at gmail.com>, AlanBSmith at sbcglobal.net, Roslyn
Mccoy <roslynmccoy at gmail.com>, shannonldillon at gmail.com,
janetsnow53 at gmail.com, lenorepresley at gmail.com, richr_ at hotmail.com,
gaylewinton at aol.com
Cc: bonnierennie98 at gmail.com

Dear all,

Please feel free to distribute to Libraries for the Blind and Print
Disabled patrons and stakeholders and note I am not using my work
email. This is a purely informational message that may interest CLUA
and BTBL’s advisory council members.

I’m following up on information circulated in November 2019 when the
Federal Fiscal Year 2021 budget was released by the Executive branch
proposing zeroing out/elimination  of the IMLS agency. This cut has
been proposed for the past 3 years and each time Congress has restored
and even slightly increased funding for LSTA monies. Each year
Congress members   author and circulate for signing by fellow
representatives what are called Dear Appropriator letters that are
intended for the chairs of various House and Senate appropriations
committees. The American Library Association has advocated for public
pressure to ask legislators to sign these letters.

Many congressional reps from CA (see attached) have not signed the
House Dear Appropriator letter for LSTA (Library Services and
Technology Act) which is the grant administered through IMLS
(Institute for Museum and Library Services). LSTA grants are
instrumental in supporting the CA Braille and Talking Book Library and
recently the Braille Institute Library.  Neither CA Senator has signed
Dear Appropriator letters. The House Dear Appropriator letter deadline
is Tuesday, March 11. See information below with email addresses and
phone numbers and/or the link for ALA Advocacy Action Center :

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/fund-libraries

Mike L.  Marlin

Mmarlin33.3 at gmail.com

From: alacol2-request at lists.ala.org
<mailto:alacol2-request at lists.ala.org>  <alacol2-request at lists.ala.org
<mailto:alacol2-request at lists.ala.org> > On Behalf Of Kevin Maher
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2020 11:59 AM
To: alacol2 at lists.ala.org <mailto:alacol2 at lists.ala.org> ;
oitpadv at lists.ala.org <mailto:oitpadv at lists.ala.org>
Subject: [alacol2] Important Appropriations Letter Update
Importance: High

Good morning,  I just did a scan of where we are on the signatures.
The attached file is a list of all the House and Senate members who
have not signed the LSTA  and/or the IAL letters. I note which letter
folks have not signed, if nothing is listed, they have signed neither
letter. We are several signatures short of last year and if we can
return all of last year’s signees, we should be close to last year.

The deadline to sign the letters is next Tuesday! (Senate deadline may
be extended but the House deadline is firm.)

If there is any outreach you can do, today would be the day to do that!

Urge your members to call  your Representatives and Senators today to
request they sign the letters.  Feel free to forward to anyone you
think is appropriate.

*	Contact the House of Representatives operator at 202-225-3121 to
speak to your Representative.

*	Ask them to sign the “Grijalva-Young LSTA letter.” They can contact
Flavio Bravo at  <mailto:Flavio.bravo at mail.house.gov>
Flavio.bravo at mail.house.gov or 202-225-2435 to sign.
*	Ask them to sign the “Johnson-Young-McGovern IAL Letter.” They can
contact Nawaid Ladak at  <mailto:Nawaid.ladak at mail.house.gov>
Nawaid.ladak at mail.house.gov or 202-225-8885 to sign.

*	Contact the Senate operator at 202-224-3121 to speak to both of your
Senators offices.

*	Ask them to sign the “Reed-Collins LSTA Letter.” They can contact
Elyse Wasch at  <mailto:Elyse.Wasch at Reed.Senate.gov>
Elyse.Wasch at Reed.Senate.gov or 202-224-4642 to sign.
*	Ask them to sign the Reed-Stabenow IAL Letter.” They can contact
Moira Lenehan at  <mailto:Moira.Lenehan at reed.senate.gov>
Moira.Lenehan at reed.senate.gov or 202-224-4642 to sign.

For additional information:

*	Visit the

 <http://www.ala.org/advocacy/fund-libraries> #FundLibraries campaign
page to see if your members of Congress have signed on to the effort.

*	If not they have not signed, please email your officials and urge
them to sign on to the Dear Appropriator Letters in the House and
Senate.

*	 <https://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/write-a-letter?3&engagementId=505997>
Use this template for the Senate
*	 <https://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/write-a-letter?6&engagementId=505968>
Use this template for the House.

If you want to take an additional step, call the office directly as listed here:

*	Contact the House of Representatives operator at 202-225-3121 to
speak to your Representative

*	Ask them to sign the “Grijalva-Young LSTA letter.” They can contact
Flavio Bravo at  <mailto:Flavio.bravo at mail.house.gov>
Flavio.bravo at mail.house.gov or 202-225-2435 to sign.
*	Ask them to sign the “Johnson-Young-McGovern IAL Letter.” They can
contact Nawaid Ladak at  <mailto:Nawaid.ladak at mail.house.gov>
Nawaid.ladak at mail.house.gov or 202-225-8885 to sign.

*	Contact the Senate operator at 202-224-3121 to speak to both of your
Senators offices.

*	Ask them to sign the “Reed-Collins LSTA Letter.” They can contact
Elyse Wasch at  <mailto:Elyse.Wasch at Reed.Senate.gov>
Elyse.Wasch at Reed.Senate.gov or 202-224-4642 to sign.
*	Ask them to sign the Reed-Stabenow IAL Letter.” They can contact
Moira Lenehan at  <mailto:Moira.Lenehan at reed.senate.gov>
Moira.Lenehan at reed.senate.gov or 202-224-4642 to sign.

Please share this note with your colleagues, friends, family, and any
other library lovers in your life and ask them to make these requests.
We need Congress to hear us, loud and clear.

Direct any questions to Kevin Maher in the ALA Public Policy &
Advocacy office,  <mailto:kmaher at alawash.org> kmaher at alawash.org.

Kevin L. Maher

Deputy Director, Public Policy & Advocacy

(202) 403-8236 ▪  <mailto:kmaher at alawash.org> kmaher at alawash.org

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-- 
SHANNON L. DILLON
Secretary and Legislative Coordinator
National Federation of the Blind
of California
The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind.
Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they
want.
www.nfbcal.org
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