[Cus-l] Proposed Federal Budget and Implications for Libraries

[Tim Dodge]

Dear Colleagues,

   As I'm sure most of you know, President Trump has released his proposed budget for the forthcoming federal fiscal year.   Please see attached.
   There are many causes for concern but I would like to draw your attention to page 5 where the President proposes to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services.  As you likely know, this agency, among other things, provides funding via the annually appropriated Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), for distribution to the states.  This is the ONLY federal funding of libraries (mainly public) and it is vitally important, especially for libraries in more rural and poorer locations.   Alabama libraries definitely find LSTA funding to be helpful and, times, crucial for their functioning.
   Ultimately, ALL libraries will be negatively affected if the IMLS is abolished as proposed by President Trump, not "just" public libraries.   I would encourage you to contact your U.S. Congressional Representative and both of your U.S. Senators to express how important it is that the Institute of Museum and Library Services NOT be eliminated.   As a percentage of the federal budget the IMLS is truly miniscule but the benefits it has historically provided for our fellow citizens are truly cost-effective thinking just in monetary terms alone.   Of course, thinking in terms of ensuring all citizens from children to seniors have access to library resources is what is truly valuable and can't really be quantified in monetary terms alone.
   See Congress's official web site, Congress.gov, at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.congress.gov_&d=DwIFAg&c=GTxgfYI6i4KYikqC6GK_Jzn2mYGEh-v4HEPYCyQcJzU&r=Wcw2DK1jSyYu2vW8GUrouU1_uD7H6Z7B53V5KVdtm8w&m=83unGt5wfARP4sdSnOOLfdy0IAAW-X0RkmE3kz-61QY&s=sRteJ6RWxNY9PNfHOkGYErjG-QIoLFSAObwGPobptvE&e=   and then click on the "Members" link at the top to both identify your Congresspeople if you don't happen to know them and to locate contact information.   In many ways, a telephone call is more effective than an e-mail message, but any sort of communication including e-mail is crucial in letting your Alabama Congressional delegation know that eliminating the IMLS is truly a disservice to the citizens of our state, their constituents.
   I am very fortunate in that the Alabama Library Association will be, once again, covering my costs of participating in the American library Association's National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C. May 1-2.   I, along with any other Alabama librarians participating, will do our best to advocate in person to our Alabama members of Congress to keep IMLS funding intact (and, ideally, increase it).
   To find out more about National Library Legislative Day, see https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.ala.org_advocacy_advleg_nlld&d=DwIFAg&c=GTxgfYI6i4KYikqC6GK_Jzn2mYGEh-v4HEPYCyQcJzU&r=Wcw2DK1jSyYu2vW8GUrouU1_uD7H6Z7B53V5KVdtm8w&m=83unGt5wfARP4sdSnOOLfdy0IAAW-X0RkmE3kz-61QY&s=sz9jk0_yUIt7Di5eK110E_x4SjIfhShodcjzePAFAj4&e=  .

Tim Dodge
ALLA CUS Legislative Development Committee Chair

Tim Dodge
History and Political Science Subject Specialist
Reference Department
Ralph Brown Draughon Library
231 Mell St.
Auburn University, AL 36849-5606

E-mail:  dodgeti at auburn.edu<mailto:dodgeti at auburn.edu>
Tel. (334) 844-1729
Fax:  (334) 844-7751


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