POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATES
Upcoming Webinar: Chapter Advocacy Exchange - Build America's Libraries Act: States Advocate for Library Infrastructure, May 5, 2 p.m. central time.
Featuring Sonya Durney, Maine Library Association; Mark Smith, Texas State Library and Archives; Wendy Woodland, Texas Library Association; Jason Broughton, Vermont State Library; and Kevin Unrath, Vermont Library Association. Gavin Baker and Larra Clark from ALA's Public Policy and Advocacy Office will provide updates.
https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KOEoW6mNQx-kemQ_0KzZ8w
Upcoming Session: Michael Blackwell and Alan Inouye will be panelists at next week's Maryland/Delaware Library Association Annual Conference: "The Future of Digital Publishing and Libraries." May 7, 12:30 p.m. eastern time
https://www.mdlib.org/files/docs/conference/MLAProgram2021.pdf
Upcoming Conference: 2021 ALA Annual Conference, end of June. Reminder to register if not already done.
https://2021.alaannual.org/
ALA releases American Rescue Plan state funding resource for libraries. State and local officials control $billions from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that could be directed to libraries (of all types).
http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2021/04/ala-releases-american-rescue-plan-state-funding-resource-libraries
ALA's letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Cardona--we urge guidance to states to allocate some ARPA funding to leverage school libraries/librarians towards COVID relief and recovery--like addressing the learning gap.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/advleg/tools/ARPA_EDletter_American%20Library%20Association%20pdf.pdf
"Libraries Can Use ARPA Funds on E-books, but Change May Be Needed" in Publishers Weekly, Andrew Albanese.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/86138-overdrive-libraries-can-use-arpa-funds-on-e-books-but-change-may-be-needed.html
In Governing Magazine--All libraries, public as well as school, academic, and others, are eligible for funds from #AmericanRescuePlan Act.
https://www.governing.com/now/public-libraries-tap-eligible-funds-billions.html
ALA submitted reply (2nd round) comments with the FCC on structuring the $7.1 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund to be made available to libraries & schools.
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1388079782022324227
ALA, through the Library Copyright Alliance, submitted comments on implementation of the CASE Act, pursuant to a Notice of Inquiry from the U.S. Copyright Office.
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/COLC-2021-0001-0019
Interview on information policy by Paul Jaeger and Natalie Taylor Green, authors of a book on information policy published by ALA.
https://twitter.com/ALALibrary/status/1387507430830051332
Library workers across the country have sought relief through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, but the program has not delivered as promised. ALA is proud to join a coalition calling on the U.S. Department of Education to review the PSLF -
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1384551705807831040
NEWS AND ARTICLES
At a recent Congressional hearing, Commerce Secretary Raimondo emphasizes libraries as infrastructure
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1384581523425439744
"The New York Power Lunch Is Back, With New Rules" in Wall Street Journal. I hope D.C. power lunches are coming back soon!!!
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-new-york-power-lunch-is-back-with-new-rules-11618766411
American Booksellers Association 2020 Amazon White Paper. If you are interested in the (e)book publishing ecosystem, I highly recommend this paper--very informative!
https://www.bookweb.org/american-booksellers-association-2020-amazon-white-paper
Alan S. Inouye, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations
American Library Association
1615 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-403-8218 ▪ ainouye@alawash.org; ala.org/wo
Follow Me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye
Registration is Now Open!
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