PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATES
>>> Upcoming: Next episode of Maryland Library Association's MLA Conversations, Friday, July 9, 2021 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern (Episode 54). Topic: How the ebook public policy landscape is continuing to change. Panelists are Andrea Berstler, Michael Blackwell, and Alan Inouye.
https://www.facebook.com/MDLib
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1pkAokE91LTMdCFU1EScqKCqEz7oHtjAFiK9tL7p1GKeogg/viewform
Apply for the Emergency Connectivity Fund!
➢ ALA Resources
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/ECF
➢ Library love from the Acting Chairwoman of the FCC Jessica Rosenworcel
https://twitter.com/JRosenworcel/status/1409872727196979203
➢ Our Marijke Visser in the Indianapolis Business Journal talking ECF
https://www.ibj.com/articles/online-outreach
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1410951704254861312
Op-eds on library construction/renovation -- Build America's Libraries Act
Everett (Wash.) Herald: https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-local-libraries-key-infrastructure-for-communities/
Buffalo News: https://buffalonews.com/opinion/another-voice-proposed-federal-legislation-would-benefit-erie-countys-public-libraries/article_b2c06354-ba5f-11eb-acba-3f4fcb1e16fe.html
ALA announces Libraries Build Business coaches. Opportunities for free advice on entrepreneurship programs in public libraries, especially in underrepresented groups/communities.
https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2021/06/ala-announces-libraries-build-business-coaches
Congrats to Jim Neal (ALA Senior Policy Fellow) and Todd Carpenter (Member of ALA Policy Corps) on their appointment to the Library of Congress Copyright Public Modernization Committee.
https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-21-034/library-of-congress-announces-copyright-public-modernization-committee/2021-06-22/
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1407651735661862913
ALA Council approves tribute resolution to honor Carrie Russell as she retires
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1410297723576848385
ALA Executive Director Tracie Hall visits the D.C. office and participates in the first in-person staff meeting of the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office since March 2020.
https://twitter.com/TracieDHall1/status/1405147192319524868
ALA joined a broad array of stakeholders in urging Congressional appropriators to support President Biden's FY22 budget request for education and related requests.
https://cef.org/wp-content/uploads/302b-Letter.LHHS_.-FY-2022-final-with-signers.pdf
ALA joins Communications Workers of America, National League of Cities, SHLB Coalition, and other groups to urge Congress to provide full funding for broadband to meet local needs for decades to come.
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1410287696703016967
ALA joins other public interest groups to call on President Biden to fill the vacant seat on the FCC immediately.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/demandprogress/letters/Letter-5th-FCC-Commissioner.pdf
NEWS AND ARTICLES
Library of Congress announces the 2021 National Book Festival
https://www.loc.gov/events/2021-national-book-festival/about-this-event/
50th anniversary of ebooks -- facts, benefits, and timeline
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1411607894940913664
Competition won't solve the digital divide - communities will (The Hill)
https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/560101-competition-wont-solve-the-digital-divide-communities-will
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