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Ad Lib: Advocacy for Libraries

September 19, 2007

House Budget Hearing - Report

The first of the area’s House’s budget hearings was last night. Did you go?

NSLS’s Jill Lynch did, and she brings us back this report:

State Reps. Fred Crespo, Paul Froehlich, Sidney Mathias, Beth Coulson and Ruth Munson were part of the bipartisan panel present at the public meetings. They all strongly encouraged contacting your State Senator to ask them to override Gov. Blagojevich’s budget vetoes. If you are uncertain how to contact your local senator, please visit the website to determine your Senator.

Tips for Presenting Testimony at Town Hall Meetings:

• Present testimony as to how much money you would have received from SB 186, and how those funds are used, or would have provided in your library.
• Testimony should be approximately two minutes in length. Audio is recorded by the representatives, but you should also email a copy to your senator.

Many library supporters came to sign the veto override statement at last night’s meeting in Hoffman Estates. Two speakers presented testimony on behalf of Illinois libraries: Frances Rohem and Deborah Miller. Frances Rohem explained how IllinoisClicks provides reference services throughout the state for less than two cents per resident. Debbie Miller, presenting on behalf of the Schaumburg Township District Library Board, testified that, “…the Per Capita Grant to public libraries is far from a handout from Springfield. Rather it is a bootstrap program which requires libraries which get the grants to meet increasingly difficult standards. There has been no increase in these grants for twelve years…”

Over 35 organizations presented testimony on the effects of the budget vetoes, including institutions which serve the mentally and physically disabled, fire safety officers, and park and recreation districts. The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:15.

The call for contacting your Senators is one of the key takeaways from this meeting. Since the House is calling the meetings, you know they’re ready to listen to concerns from the voters regarding the governor’s budget. But the Senate’s position is less clear.

So do like Jill says: take a minute to head over to NSLS’s Legislative Directory, find out who your library’s Senator is, and then get in touch to let your position be known.

posted by Alan at 10:57 am |

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