ALAWON v2n15 (April 26, 1993) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alawon/alawon-v2n15 ****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 2, Number 15 April 26, 1993 In this issue: FOLLOW-UP CALLS NEEDED ON KILDEE LETTER HEARING ON LIBRARIES HELD APRIL 21 NREN APPLICATIONS BILL INTRODUCED HEA LIBRARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS PROPOSED HEA COLLEGE FACILITIES LOANS REGS PROPOSED NTIA PUBLIC TELECOM. FACILITIES APPLICATIONS UPCOMING HEARINGS *************************************************************************** FOLLOW-UP CALLS NEEDED ON KILDEE LETTER Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI), as noted in the previous issue, is leading a campaign to restore funding for the library programs proposed for elimination in the Clinton Administration budget request. He has asked his House colleagues to join him in signing a letter to the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The letter requests that the subcommittee provide funding at current year levels for the zeroed-out titles under the Library Services and Construction Act and the Higher Education Act library programs. As of Friday, April 23, twenty-three Representatives have called Rep. Kildee's office to sign on. We need to more than double this number in a hurry so the letter will have a strong impact. Rep. Kildee has extended the deadline for Members to sign on until this Friday, April 30. The list of those who have committed to signing the letter is as follows: Reps. Kildee (D-MI), Strickland (D-OH), Nadler (D-NY), Jacobs (D-IN), Evans (D-IL), Wise (D-WV), Hastings (D-FL), Rahall (D-WV), Morella (R-MD), Kopetski (D-OR), Hochbrueckner (D-NY), Poshard (D-IL), Mfume (D-MD), Gutierrez (D-IL), Lancaster (D-NC), Cardiss Collins (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Byrne (D-VA), Schumer (D-NY), Murphy (D-PA), Owens (D-NY), Volkmer (D-MO), and Slaughter (D-NY). ACTION NEEDED: If your Representative indicated support, but isn't on this list, place a follow-up phone call (House operator is at 202-225-3121). The message to your Member's staff person: Sign on to Rep. Kildee's letter to Chairman Natcher on library funding by calling Larry Rosenthal in Rep. Kildee's office (225-3611) by April 30. Sometimes intentions are good, but, in the hectic press of business in most congressional offices, a reminder from a constituent is necessary to ensure that intent is carried out. If your Representative hasn't yet committed, place a call now. The continued existence of the zeroed out library programs is at stake. Reminder: The programs proposed for elimination total $44 million and include LSCA II for construction/renovation of public libraries, LSCA V for acquisition of foreign language materials, LSCA VI for library literacy programs, HEA II-A college library and technology grants, HEA II-B library education and research, HEA II-C for access to major research library resources, and HEA VI-A section 607 acquisition of foreign research materials. *************************************************************************** HEARING ON LIBRARIES HELD APRIL 21 On April 21, the Joint Committee on the Library, chaired by Rep. Charlie Rose (D-NC), held a hearing on the Library of Congress and its link to the nation's state and local libraries. The hearing represented a unique grassroots snapshot of the inventiveness, the partnerships, and the technological innovation librarians are using to meet the challenges and opportunities they face. Fourteen people presented testimony: Representative Major Owens (D-NY) Librarian of Congress James Billington ALA President Marilyn Miller John Welch, Acting State Librarian of North Carolina Joan Ress Reeves (trustee and WHCLIST), Providence, Rhode Island Liz Rodriguez Miller, Director, Tucson-Pima Library, Arizona Jane Hatch, Director, Dodge City Public Library and Southwest Kansas Library System Robert Fisher, Director, Robeson County (NC) Public Library George Smith, Deputy Director, Alaska State Library Constance Cooke, Director, Queens Borough (NY) Public Library Jerry Thrasher, Director, Cumberland County (NC) Public Library Jan Moltzan, Assistant Director of Public Services, Dallas Public Library Jim Scheppke, State Librarian of Oregon Brenda Carroll, Director, Kearney (NE) Public Library and Information Center Rep. Owens began the hearing by sharing his experience with the Library of Congress from two perspectives, first as a librarian with the Brooklyn Public Library, where LC was the "library of last resort," and as a Representative, with LC as the "library of first resort." He noted that American libraries have been starved of essential resources and expressed shock at the Administration's budget, which he felt did not reflect what President Clinton said when he addressed the first White House Conference on Library and Information Services in 1979. The Librarian of Congress described LC's national services to other libraries, and paid tribute to the libraries of first resort directly serving citizens in local communities. He argued for a strong role for libraries and librarians in the electronic future. He said LC would shortly put its electronic card catalog online free via the Internet. ALA President Miller made four key points: (1) residents of all ages use their public libraries as never before in history; (2) libraries in many parts of the country are in deep financial trouble; (3) financial problems are exacerbated by libraries' need to move rapidly (to avoid a two-tiered society) toward storage, access, and delivery of information via electronic systems; and (4) the federal government has a continuing and essential role in guaranteeing the public's access to information. She also discussed the disappointing Clinton budget for libraries, praised the Chairman's GPO electronic access bill, and urged support for pending school library media services bills. Although the other witnesses came from widely scattered places, they touched upon common themes. Several witnesses disagreed with the Clinton Administration's assertion that LSCA grants were no longer necessary. Cooke cited the need to renovate libraries in Queens to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to Smith, "the argument that the goals of the Library Services and Construction Act are met is simply inconceivable to those of us in Alaska and throughout the West." Scheppke said that in Oregon, every federal dollar invested in LSCA II leveraged $6 in local funds. Representative Martin Frost (D-TX) asked about the budgetary pressures on library branches that serve poorer communities. Moltzan assured him that the Dallas Public Library branches in all neighborhoods were open the same number of hours with the same core staffing levels. LSCA funds received by the library were targeted specifically for the disadvantaged. Witnesses also described the work libraries were doing to enhance electronic connectivity. Reeves indicated the local telephone company was helping libraries to become connected to the Internet. Welch told the committee about the North Carolina Information Network, a plan to provide public and multi-type libraries the ability to share library-related information resources at a cost that all library systems can afford. Carroll described Nebraska Online, a system making news, electronic mail, information on current events, and Nebraska state government information available through a toll-free telephone number. Hatch recommended an Information Homestead Act: In the 1990's information delivery is the frontier, fiber is the medium of transport, standardized equipment and software are the passenger cars and librarians stand willing to lead as the conductors and navigators to guide users on this frontier so that they feel successful and are empowered to yield results. We ask for access, equipment, training and the chance to help develop a new crop of users from all segments of our communities that can put information to work. *************************************************************************** NREN APPLICATIONS BILL INTRODUCED Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), Chairman of the House Science Subcommittee, introduced on April 21 the High Performance Computing and High Speed Networking Applications Act of 1993, HR 1757. The bill would amend the High Performance Computing Act of 1991 to establish an interagency program for development of applications of computing and networking technologies for education, libraries, health care, and provision of government information. The Subcommittee will hold a series of hearings on HR 1757, beginning on April 27. *************************************************************************** HEA LIBRARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS PROPOSED Proposed regulations for three Higher Education Act title II library programs were published in the April 16 _Federal Register_, pp. 21051-56. The proposed rules would amend the II-A College Library Technology and Cooperation Grants Program, the II-B Library Research and Demonstration Program, and the II-C Improving Access to Research Library Resources Program to implement changes made by the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 (PL 102-325). Comments are due by May 17 to Louise Sutherland or Frank Stevens, U.S. Dept. of Education, 202-219-1315 (for TDD, 1-800-877- 8839; in area code 202, 708-9300). *************************************************************************** HEA COLLEGE FACILITIES LOANS REGS PROPOSED Proposed regulations governing the College Facilities Loan Program under the Higher Education Act title VII were published in the April 13 _Federal Register_, pp. 19297-305, to reflect changes made by the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 (PL 102-325). Academic library facilities are among the eligible purposes for loans. Comments are due by May 13. Further information: Sarah Babson, U.S. Dept. of Education, 202-708-6865 (for TDD, 1-800-877-8339; in area code 202, 708-9300). *************************************************************************** NTIA PUBLIC TELECOM. FACILITIES APPLICATIONS The National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the Department of Commerce has listed summaries of applications accepted for filing under its Grants for Planning and Construction of Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. The notice says the acceptance of applications for filing is a procedure designed for making preliminary determinations of eligibility and for providing the opportunity for public comment on applications. See the March 24 _Federal Register_, pp. 16071- 92, for the state-by-state listing. This is the program for which the Clinton Administration requested $64 million in new funding in its FY93 stimulus package for pilot projects to connect schools, libraries, hospitals, and nonprofits to computer networks such as the Internet. The additional funds were recently stripped along with all other stimulus provisions except additional unemployment compensation when Senate Republicans successfully maintained a filibuster and thus defeated the President's stimulus package. Nevertheless, the program is scheduled for $51 million in new funding in the President's FY94 budget, and for restructuring into an information infrastructure program of pilot project grants. The existing Public Telecommunications Facilities Program already allows for fiber optic projects and distance learning activities as well as the upgrading of public broadcast facilities. Those interested in the NTIA pilot projects proposed in the Clinton technology initiative may find it useful to examine the kinds of applications currently received under the PTFP. *************************************************************************** UPCOMING HEARINGS The following hearings were announced in the _Congressional Record_ of April 22, 1993. Locations, dates, and times are subject to change. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE. Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance. Oversight hearings on issues relating to the integrity of telecommunications networks and transmission including consumer privacy, encryption, computer hacking, toll fraud and data security. Thursday, April 29, 1993, 9:30 am, 2123 Rayburn. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY. Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration. Oversight hearing on a Possible Protocol to the Berne Copyright Convention. Thursday, April 29, 2993, 10:00 am, 2237 Rayburn. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY. Hearing on the High Performance Computing and High Speed Networking Applications Act of 1993. Tuesday, April 27, 1993, 9:30 am, 2318 Rayburn. *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ALAWON is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363; Internet: alawash@alawash.org. Editor and List Owner: Fred King (fdk@alawash.org). All or part of ALAWON may be redistributed, with appropriate credits. ALAWON is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe ala-wo [your name]" to listserv@uicvm (Bitnet) or listserv@uicvm.uic.edu (internet). Back issues of ALAWON are available from the list server. To find out what's available, send the message "send ala-wo filelist" to the listserv. The ALA-WO filelist contains the list of files with the exact filename and filetype. 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