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Ad Lib: Advocacy for Libraries

September 12, 2007

Budgets and Hearings

Recently, the Illinois General Assembly passed SB 186, the Working Cash Funds bill a bill that calls for an increase in library operating funds. This was, obviously, a good things for libraries.

Unfortunately, Gov. Blagojevich vetoed it.

Now, the Illinois House of Representatives is hosting nineteen public hearings, and ILA is encouraging library voices to be heard at these hearing. NSLS director Sarah Long has put out a call to all NSLS members as well:

For the first time in twelve years, the Illinois General Assembly approved an increase in the funding for public library per capita grants. However, the governor vetoed the entire amount.

Regional library systems have not had an increase in funding since 1989. Funding for the Illinois State Library is equally dismal compounded by occasional cuts.

Three hearings are being held in our area. This is a rare opportunity for you to stand up and be counted and even to speak about the importance of library/system/state library funding:

Sept. 18, 2007 6:00 p.m. Hoffman Estates Village Hall
Sept. 19, 2007 6 p.m. McHenry College Conference Center
Sept. 25, 2007 4 p.m. Northbrook Village Hall

If you would like to speak, please contact in advance the persons listed below for each hearing.
To go and be registered as a supporter of a motion to override the governors veto, just show up. You don’t even have to stay the whole time. This is a great opportunity for the library community to show the power and strength and commitment of our community. Numbers count!

To speak at the Hoffman Estates hearing, contact Shirley May Byrnes at: smbyrnes@dupagels.lib.il.us
To speak at the McHenry College hearing, contact Karolyn Nance at: knance@frgml.lib.il.us
To speak at the Northbrook hearing, contact Tamiye Meehan at tmeehan@itpld.lib.il.us

ILA hasn’t yet posted on their site their call to action with the list of all nineteen hearing locations, but when they do we’ll get it up here. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to make plans to make it to these hearings. Even if you don’t have anything to say, an extra body in support of this issue could make all the difference!

posted by Alan at 1:51 pm |

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