PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATES
--> Action. Sign up for the Unite Against Book Bans campaign. It is easy to sign up. Be informed about what's happening to libraries and library workers in the book banning & censorship arenas. And take action if you can, with ALA.
https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/
--> Action. Congress is finalizing a budget (FY23) that includes dedicated library facilities funding for the first time in over 25 years! But the House hasn't yet signed on. Contact your Members of Congress:
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1570826094059859969
https://t.co/s5MyXLYVOO
--> Action. Register your library for National Voter Registration Day, September 30.
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1568345028585734145
--> Upcoming. Webinar on the future of ebook legislation with panel comprising Briana McNamee, Michael Blackwell, Irene Padilla, Kyle Courtney, and Alan Inouye. Hosted by DPLA with COSLA & ReadersFirst.
https://twitter.com/dpla/status/1570769682038403078
AP News: "Book ban efforts surging in 2022, library association says."
https://apnews.com/article/libraries-american-library-association-book-banning-af7c9f312266b572c3dc189b1d109de4
https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/09/ala-releases-preliminary-data-2022-book-bans
Banned Books Week programming: There's a lot to see and do. Check it out.
https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/09/american-library-association-highlights-increasing-censorship-attempts-during
Sen. Lujan and Rep. Matsui introduce the Digital Equity Foundation Act of 2022. Quote by ALA President Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada included in the Congressional release. This legislation would divert some revenue from FCC spectrum auctions to the funding of a digital equity foundation to provide grants to libraries and other eligible institutions. Currently, this revenue flows into the U.S. Treasury.
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1570507146839863296
ALA releases highlights report of our Libraries Build Business initiative, which advances entrepreneurship and small business through libraries, especially for groups that are underrepresented in small business/entrepreneurship.
https://twitter.com/ALALibrary/status/1570136560632483840
Pew Stateline article "Librarians and Lawmakers Push for Greater Access to E-Books" includes key librarians around the country, as well as PPA's Alan Inouye
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2022/09/06/librarians-and-lawmakers-push-for-greater-access-to-e-books
ALA congratulates Scott Matheson on his appointment as the Superintendent of Documents at the Government Publishing Office. In this role, he supervises the Federal Depository Library Program.
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1568235593842262016
ALA supports Congresswoman Nikema Williams' Home Internet Accessibility Act, legislation that would fund a comprehensive new plan to address nationwide broadband inaccessibility in federally assisted housing.
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1567962368004734978
ALA President-elect Emily Drabinski meets with ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C. She received two days of briefings on policy and advocacy.
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1570100923032272896
NEWS, ARTICLES, RESOURCES
Volunteer to serve on ALA committees (like the ones in the Public Policy & Advocacy Office). Deadline is September 30. Also need to request renewals for an additional term of service.
https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2022/07/volunteer-serve-ala-council-and-joint-committees-2023-2025
https://twitter.com/ALALibrary/status/1568231851109634048
National Book Foundation: ALA Executive Director Tracie Hall will receive the 2022 Literarian Award at the 73rd National Book Awards Ceremony.
https://twitter.com/nationalbook/status/1567518514788851712
Over the next year, IMLS will convene an interagency taskforce & facilitate the development of a portal of resources bridging information literacy research & practice to advance information literacy within communities.
https://twitter.com/US_IMLS/status/1570453353896857602
U.S. Copyright Office: "Come visit us! On-site services in our Washington, DC, office are available by appointment." Interesting that they are publicizing this possibility.
https://twitter.com/CopyrightOffice/status/1571500540311339013
White House offers paid internships (tell your students!)
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1566843712646299650
Alan S. Inouye, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations and Interim Associate Executive Director
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