PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATES
--> Now: The ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office is recruiting for a deputy director, Public Policy and Government Relations, based in D.C. Focus on broadband and digital inclusion policy. Spread the word!
https://recruiting.ultipro.com/AME1043ALA/JobBoard/dfe6e811-9bc3-4dec-9055-a545370be9fa/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=cdaefa68-d689-40bf-bafd-4b44f8401b4b
--> Upcoming: Webinar of the ALA Chapter Advocacy Exchange: E-books, with Julie Holden (R.I.), Michael Blackwell (Md.), Briana McNamee (N.Y.), and Alan Inouye (ALA) on October 13, Wednesday, 3 p.m. (eastern) / 2 p.m. (central)
https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IuSfIP3JTPOcLTqXsc3Z5g
--> Upcoming: Libraries Build Business at the Michigan Library Association on Weds, Oct 13, 2:10 p.m. (eastern) featuring our Megan Janicki and from LBB libraries Chris Bourret, Providence Pub Lib & Brandon West, Independence (KS) Pub Lib
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1445181503227539457
Op-ed in the San Francisco Examiner: Federal funding would be a game-changer for San Francisco's beloved libraries. It's time to renew the historic Mission and Chinatown branches and build in Ocean View. We need to appeal to Congressional leadership (e.g., Speaker Pelosi) to include BALA in the budget reconciliation bill.
https://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/federal-funding-would-be-a-game-changer-for-san-franciscos-beloved-libraries/
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1440805608383389705
ALA, as part of the Library Copyright Alliance, submitted comments to the U.S. Copyright Office to object to the explicit omission of library employees on the proposed rule on the CASE Act implementation
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1444009719719337986
ALA appoints Hallie Rich (member of the ALA Policy Corps) as an ALA Policy Fellow to work on digital book data and advocacy
https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2021/09/hallie-rich-appointed-ala-policy-fellow
ALA joins with education-based coalition to push for Emergency Connectivity Funds to be included in the Budget Reconciliation bill in a letter to Congressional leadership
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1446217782799052805
ALA welcomes changes in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1445844485720535041
Rep. Andy Levin visits newest facility of Clinton Macomb (Michigan) Public Library, run by our Larry Neal, ALA Policy Corps Fellow and ALA Executive Board member
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1441110045299654662
Rhode Island libraries hosts our Megan Janicki to talk Libraries Build Business. She loved her visit to the Ocean State!
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1440748984348430337
How can different library types collaborate for more effective advocacy? Get started with this easy-to-use assessment from the #ALAOneVoice toolkit:
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/Self-Assessment%20for%20State%20Ecosystem%20Continuum.pdf
Nifty graphic on the value of school librarians from ALA's Committee on Library Advocacy
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/stateandlocal/School%20Librarians%20v2.pdf
ALA sponsored the Committee on Education Funding gala; Sen. Ed Markey was featured speaker (in person). ALA contingent included Kathi Kromer, Kevin Maher, Alan Inouye, and Shawnda Hines
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1443007392011202565
A personal milestone for Alan: Spent a full week -- Monday to Friday -- in the physical office for the first time since March 2020
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1444018930549497856
NEWS AND ARTICLES
FCC announces first funding wave for the Emergency Connectivity Fund
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-commits-over-12b-first-emergency-connectivity-funding-wave
At the local level, money from ARPA may still be available: Check out Beverly, Mass.:
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1441838543375159296
https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/herald-citizen/2021/09/21/city-beverly-seeks-input-how-arpa-funds-should-used-american-rescue-plan-act-pandemic-recovery/8417446002/
Public Spaces in the Digital Age by Eli Lehrer, R Street Institute
https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/public-spaces-in-the-digital-age
White House announcement: To help promote voting access, IMLS will create & distribute a toolkit of resources & strategies that libraries, museums & heritage & cultural institutions can use to promote civic engagement & participation.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/28/fact-sheet-biden-administration-promotes-voter-participation-with-new-agency-steps/
https://twitter.com/US_IMLS/status/1442945708743614464
Alan S. Inouye, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations
American Library Association
1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Office 202-403-8218 ▪ Mobile 202-276-6738 ▪ ainouye@alawash.org
Follow Me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye