ALAWON v4n50 (May 31, 1995) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alawon/alawon-v4n50 ****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ISSN 1069-7799 ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 4, Number 50 May 31, 1995 In this issue: (121 lines) AMERICAN'S CAN'T WAIT - LIBRARY ADVOCACY NOW! CAMPAIGN EXTENDED NATIVE AMERICAN ASSISTANCE PART OF HOUSE BLOCK GRANT BILL *************************************************************************** AMERICAN'S CAN'T WAIT - LIBRARY ADVOCACY NOW! CAMPAIGN EXTENDED ALA's "Library Advocacy Now!" campaign has been extended through June 30, giving library supporters additional time to send in postcards and letters to their Congressional offices. There could be no better time to conduct an advocacy campaign since this is a critical period for Congressional activities related to library legislation. The House continues work on its block grant efforts to include library programs in H.R. 1617. A bill, S. 856, has now been introduced in the Senate to reauthorize the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) as a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). These efforts will soon be followed by a battle over actual appropriations so it is extremely important for legislators to hear from grassroots library advocates in June. ALA has heard positive responses from Congressional offices about "getting all those cards", so the campaign is succeeding in its goal to alert policy makers to the urgency and scope of the American public's need for information and for libraries that can satisfy that need. This advocacy campaign is part of ALA's Goal 2000 efforts to make the voice of libraries heard where information policies are developed. Patricia Glass Schuman, chair of the "Americans Can't Wait" campaign and of the ALA Legislation Committee, said a key legislative goal is renewal of a revised LSCA as a Library Services and Technology Act (whether in a block grant or other mechanism), as well as to protect other legislation to support public, school and academic libraries. There is a special emphasis on acquiring the technology libraries need to provide public access to the information superhighway. "It's critical that library advocates speak out given the current political climate in Washington," Schuman said, "...the grassroots efforts are needed now more than ever." The goal of the "Pass-A-Buck" campaign is to convince members of Congress to ultimately increase federal support for all types of libraries to a dollar per person, and to reaffirm the federal role for library development. A key campaign strategy is the "Pass-A-Buck" postcard initiative which is intended to demonstrate broad-based public support for federal library programs. Each congressional office should receive at least 100 postcards. Postcards and other materials related to the Library Advocacy Now! campaign are available from the ALA Public Information Office, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611 (phone: 800-545-2433 ext. 5044). The "Americans Can't Wait" campaign has also been endorsed by Friends of Libraries USA and Libraries for the Future, a national citizens advocacy group. *************************************************************************** NATIVE AMERICAN ASSISTANCE PART OF HOUSE BLOCK GRANT BILL H.R. 1617, the block grant bill approved May 24 by the House Economic and Educational Opportunities Committee, includes a consolidation of funds under several currently separate provisions or setasides of funds for Indian tribes and tribal entities. This consolidated provision would include the current setaside of Library Services and Construction Act funds for library services. Small setasides of funds from several areas of the block grant bill, including from the separate subtitle for libraries (the Library Services and Technology Consolidation Grant), would be combined. These funds could be used for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with Indian tribes or tribal organizations and institutions (including Alaska Native village entities and Hawaiian Native organizations) to provide employment, training, vocational rehabilitation, library services, and education assistance. The choice of use of funds would be up to the tribal entity. According to House Committee staff, this provision was worked out with representatives of tribal organizations. Section 315 of H.R. 1617 as introduced would accomplish part of this intent, and will be further refined in the Committee-approved version of the bill (not yet issued) or in technical amendments during House floor consideration. The Senate LSTA bill just introduced, S. 856, includes a Native American setaside similar to the current LSCA provisions. *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Internet: alawash@alawash.org; Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363. Contributing to this issue: Carol C. Henderson; Editor: Lynne E. Bradley (leb@alawash.org). ALAWON is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. 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