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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Maryland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped budget needs to be protected. Next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 23 and 24, I want you to call or email the following people and tell them that the staff positions listed in the budget must not be cut. Tell the Senators not to cut $48,470 from the budget. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The area code is either 410-841 plus the extension or 301-858 plus the extension. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Montgomery County, call Senator Nancy King. Her extension is 3686. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in PG County, call Senator Ulysses Curry, his extension is 3127.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Hagerstown, call Senator Andrew Serafini, his extension is 5540.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Baltimore city, call Senator Bill Ferguson at 3600.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Everyone else should call the Chairman of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, Senator Edward Kasemeyer at 3653. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Remember the email address is <a href="mailto:firstname.lastname@senate.state.md.us">firstname.lastname@senate.state.md.us</a>. Look for a message in early March with the names of delegates to call. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Below is a fact sheet about the library budget for your reference. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in'><img border=0 width=416 height=177 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D16A71.D3A6FCC0" alt="NFBMD Logo K Rect"><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>To: Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee of the Senate Budget<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>and Taxation Committee and <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Education and Economic Development Subcommittee</span></b></span><span class=MsoHyperlink><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'> </span></span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>of the House Appropriations Committee<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>From: Members of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Contact: Sharon Maneki, President<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>9013 Nelson Way<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Columbia, MD 21045<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Phone: 410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Email: nfbmd@earthlink.net<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Subject: Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Budget<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout'><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=left><tr><td width=0 height=600></td></tr><tr><td></td><td><img width=630 height=3 src="cid:image006.png@01D16A71.D3A6FCC0" v:shapes="Straight_x0020_Connector_x0020_3 Straight_x0020_Connector_x0020_4"></td></tr></table></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div><br style='mso-ignore:vglayout' clear=ALL><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) program was neglected for many years because it had no line item budget in the Department of Education. To remedy this deplorable problem, a new funding formula for LBPH was established during the 2014 session of the General Assembly mandating the governor to fund LBPH to at least 25% of the funding received by the SLRC. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>LBPH is the major source of reading material for blind children, senior citizens and working-age adults. This is not a luxury program. Currently, LBPH fails to meet its mission. Blind children are not gaining in literacy skills because they cannot get enough Braille books to read. The books exist, but there is not enough staff to get them to the students who need them. Many blind seniors losing vision do not know about this valuable program because the library does not have enough staff to do outreach and explain the benefits of the program. Lives are seriously diminished due to this lack of information. Blind persons of working age have little access to existing reference material at LBPH because there is not enough staff to answer the phone and provide needed information. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The 2017 budget includes a request for 14 new regular positions for LBPH. This request is not expanding the program. These positions will allow a failing program to function. Currently, LBPH serves merely 8% of its potential customer base. Since people are living longer, and more of the aging population is losing vision, the customer base will be increasing yearly. LBPH needs to be able to serve this growing population. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The Department of Legislative Services must understand that the purpose of the funding formula is to provide staff to keep the doors of the program open. New personnel is the most effective use of this funding since there will be no program if there is no staff. The Department of Legislative Services recommendation to reduce the library budget by $48,470 should also be rejected. LBPH is losing its knowledge base because staff is leaving due to the untenable working conditions. Without an infusion of critically-needed staff, the goal of saving a much-needed program will not be achieved.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Sharon Maneki, </b>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>