POLICY & ADVOCACY UPDATES
>> Continuing: Please sign up for the Unite Against Book Bans campaign if you or your organization has not yet done so. Many have joined but many have not.
https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/
>> Continuing: Sign up for ALA Mobile Alerts to take action & write your member of Congress from your phone - text ALA to 716-271-2182
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1623092605872488453
>> Continuing: Registration is open for ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, June 22-27. There will be multiple public policy and advocacy programs and meetings. Join us!
https://twitter.com/ALALibrary/status/1621589612383576065
ALA held its Congressional Fly-in focused on FY24 appropriations. First-time ever partnered with any another group--COSLA.
https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/ala-launches-fy2024-fundlibraries-campaign/
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1634535669107228678
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1636076794997612546
https://twitter.com/MaineStLibrary/status/1636683839614402560
https://twitter.com/Lessa4Libraries/status/1633573878642405377
https://twitter.com/edrabinski/status/1633874288305373208
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1634495224536788992
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1636031416994615299
(and many more, which can be found on @librarypolicy)
ALA is disappointed in the House passage of the Parents Bill of Rights Act, HR 5, dangerous legislation that would enable book bans & censorship. But thanks to library advocates, the bill was kept to razor-thin margins. Prospects in the Senate are dim, but we will be working to make them dimmer. Look for more information and possible action about this in the coming weeks.
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1639323473267892224
ALA releases book banning and restrictions statistics for 2022 -- which was the record high year.
https://twitter.com/AP/status/1638861909846904832
https://twitter.com/loidagarciafebo/status/1639959120156454914
Sen. Lujan and Rep. Matsui reintroduced the Digital Equity Foundation Act. Would divert some FCC spectrum auction proceeds from going to the US Treasury to a new foundation for digital equity. Libraries of all types would be eligible for funding. ALA is an endorsing organization named and quoted in the Congressional release.
https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-matsui-colleagues-reintroduce-legislation-to-close-divide-on-digital-equity-inclusion-and-literacy/
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1631265443909455873
Video by Sen. Lujan: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16TC6p8wrPLHT41OTGWed7uDPFCepximu
PEOPLE's 2023 Women Changing the World: Becky Calzada (School librarian, Leander, Texas, and Member, ALA Policy Corps) and retired librarian Carolyn Foote named for her work on opposing book banning and censorship.
https://people.com/human-interest/women-changing-the-world-2023/
ALA filed comments on the FCC's digital discrimination proceeding. Features work and insights by ALA Executive Director Tracie Hall.
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10221012023614
Published by the US Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration. "Working with Libraries: A guide for States and Territories on leveraging libraries in digital inclusion efforts." Includes multiple ALA references and content:
https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/How_to_Engage_with_Libraries_for_SBOs.pdf
Leverage Libraries to Achieve Historic Progress Toward Digital Equity for All: CNI Video Project Briefing by Kara Malenfant (ACRL) and Michelle Frisque (ALA PPA Consultant)
https://www.cni.org/topics/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility/leverage-libraries-to-achieve-historic-progress-toward-digital-equity-for-all
ALA joined some prominent public interest groups and other organizations to call for a prompt nomination and confirmation process for a FCC Commissioner. Someone who is an aggressive proponent of digital inclusion.
https://twitter.com/demandprogress/status/1636719814508007424
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1637107314724405252
NEWS AND ARTICLES AND MISC
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied a petition arguing the E-rate program (and other Universal Service Programs) are unconstitutional. Delegation of administration from the FCC to USAC is proper.
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1639547586473259008
ICYMI: In the Washington Post: Culture war in the stacks: Librarians marshal against rising book bans: Facing smear campaigns and death threats, librarians are on the front lines of what they call an urgent battle for intellectual freedom:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/03/02/culture-war-stacks-librarians-marshal-against-rising-book-bans/
Congratulations to new appointees to the Museum and Library Services Board
https://twitter.com/LibraryPolicy/status/1636726371899654152
My friend Joan Shigekawa receives the National Medal of the Arts from President Biden
https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1638291769006735364
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