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Ad Lib: Advocacy for Libraries

February 16, 2006

On Budgets And Grants: An Important Message

From NSLS Director Sarah Long:

Yesterday Gov. Blagojevich gave his budget message and the state budget for FY 07 was released.

In going over the budget, we noticed that the budget line item for Annual Equalization Grants, Per Capita and Area Grants, and Per Capita Grants to Public Libraries has been reduced by $510,500. These are the grants that support services at public libraries and the regional library system services including delivery.

More information will be forthcoming when specifics become available. In the meantime, we are bringing this to your attention. You might wish to contact your state legislators and Secretary of State Jesse White with any concerns you might have ASAP about this reduction in fund and how it may affect library service.

If you need telephone numbers consult ILA Cap Wiz at http://capwiz.com/ila/state/main/?state=IL

The Illinois State Budget can be found at http://www.state.il.us/budget/FY07%20Budget%20Book.pdf Note this is a pdf file. Scroll down to page 366 of 478 pdf pages for the entry noted above.

posted by Alan at 2:59 pm | Comments (0)

Legislative Breakfast: Sure Beats the IHOP

If this blog has seemed a little empty, it’s because we here at Ad Lib are heading full-tilt into NSLS’s upcoming Legislative Breakfast. This will be our biggest Breakfast yet, with representation from 25 different state and federal legislative districts and a standing room only crowd.

Are you already signed up? Registration is closed, so if you’re not already planning to be there, you might have to look forward to next year instead. But don’t let that stop you from reaching out to your legislators! There are lots of other opportunities still waiting for you. You can join us as we head down to Springfield, attend the Sunshine Week panel discussion on government secrecy, or even head out to Washington, D.C. with us for National Library Legislative Day! Still need more ideas? You can always seek suggestions from others at the Advocacy CoP.

Okay, that’s enough shameless plugging for now; we have to get back to putting the final touches for the Breakfast in place. See you Monday!

posted by Alan at 9:13 am | Comments (0)

February 10, 2006

10th Congressional Contenders Hold Candidate Forums

The Democratic contenders for Rep. Mark Kirk’s seat will be holding a series of forums throughout the district leading up to the primary election on March 21. These forums are designed to “give voters a chance to see and hear…Democratic candidates” Dan Seals and Zane Smith. So if you have a chance, swing by one of their sessions and find out where they stand on important library issues. Then report back here in comments!

The schedule for the forums includes:

New Trier: 2 p.m. Sunday at Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka.

Moraine: 7 p.m. Monday, Community House, 1991 Sheridan Road, Highland Park.

Elk Grove: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21, Holiday Inn, 2120 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights.

Palatine: 9 a.m. Feb. 25, Twin Lakes Golf Club, 1200 E. Twin Lakes Drive, Palatine.

West Deerfield: 2 p.m. Feb. 26, Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Road, Deerfield.

Warren: 7 p.m. Feb. 27, Warren-Newport Library, 224 N. O’Plaine Road, Gurnee.

Shields: 7 p.m. March 2, Flanagan’s Restaurant, 3201 N. Buckley Road, North Chicago.

Vernon: 2 p.m. March 5, Township Meeting Hall, 2900 N. Main St., Buffalo Grove.

Libertyville: 7 p.m. March 8, Township Meeting Hall, 359 Merrill Court, Libertyville.

Waukegan: 7 p.m. March 9, San Luis Restaurant, 50 S. Green Bay Road, Waukegan.

posted by Alan at 8:54 am | Comments (0)

February 9, 2006

Patriot Act Agreement: Are you an “electronic service provider?”

As you’re quite possibly already aware, a handful of Senate Republicans had joined with the Senate Democrats to effect changes to the Patriot Act late last year. Well, those Republicans, it seems, have just reached a tentative accord with the White House on the civil liberties issues that were holding them back.

What does that mean for libraries, which are on the public forefront on this issue? Read for yourself:

[A Republican] official also said a second proposed change would clarify that only libraries that are “electronic service providers” could be required to provide information to government agents as part of a terrorist investigation.
…

Republicans said that with the changes, the chance would be remote that any library would have to turn over information.

But Democrats said the same provision made explicit that some libraries could be forced to turn over information, adding that existing law is vague on the subject.

There’s no explanation in this article what is meant by “electronic service providers,” and the express inclusion of libraries as places that can be searched seems at odds with what the library community would like to see come of this.

Of course, it’s possible the actual legislation could tell a different story, and who knows what it will look like by time it comes out of committee. There’s still a long way to go on this one…

posted by Alan at 3:46 pm | Comments (0)

February 8, 2006

President Proposes Increased LSTA Funding…Again!

Library Journal (and, I’m sure, other places) are reporting on how President Bush is once again proposing increased funding for library programs, specifically in the form of a $10.26 million increase to the LSTA budget.

I don’t have to tell you that this is a good thing, especially with reports of huge cuts in other areas of the budget this year. If you think this is a good thing, too, let your legislators know so that they know to support this when it comes time for their votes.

posted by Alan at 10:35 am | Comments (0)