Event Last day to encourage senators to support letter for LSTA/the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program

Please contact your senator's office before May 14th and ask him/her to sign the "Dear Colleague" letter being circulated by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) in support of funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program. The letter requests that the Senate include $300 million for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and $100 million for the Improving Literary Through School Libraries program for the 2010 fiscal year. The deadline for senators to sign the letter is May 14, 2009.

 This is a tough budget year and only a select few programs will receive an increase in funding for the 2010 fiscal year. LSTA and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program are in serious danger of receiving cuts or level funding without a minimum of 60 Senators’ signatures on the letter. Please contact your Senator's office by May 14th and encourage your friends and family members to do so as well!

Visit the ALA web site for contact information for your Senator and for talking points that you can share on the phone with the staff person in your Senator’s office. When you contact your Senator's office you must ask that he or she call Andrew Odgren with Senator Reed at 202-224-4642 or Mathew Hussey with Senator Snowe at 202-224-5344 to sign on to the letter.