Legislative News
Who can be a library advocate? Anyone who cares about Iowa's libraries!
Library advocates play a key role in educating our communities about why libraries and librarians are essential in an information society. While the Iowa Library Association is ably represented by professional lobbyists, the voices heard from around Iowa make the difference in the success or failure of legislation.
There are many ways to become a library advocate:
If you are not already a member, join ILA! There is strength in numbers and your voice, when joined with others, makes us all a more powerful force in Des Moines.
Visit the ILA website for the legislative agenda; legislative alerts; and information about organized legislative activities such as Lobby From Home Day and the Legislative Reception.
Get to Know Your Elected Officials. Invite them to library events and add them to your mailing list. Regular communication with key officials and their staff is important year-round. Legislators who know and understand the value of libraries in their community are powerful friends in Des Moines.
Participate in organized legislative events such as Lobby From Home Day and the Legislative Reception. Regularly check ILA's Legislative Updates to stay up to date on legislative issues.
ILA's Lobby from Home Day Information
As we get ready for ILA's As we get ready for ILA's Lobby from Home Day this Wednesday (Feb. 15th), we wanted to provide some information and talking points.
- Impact of cuts to Enrich Iowa
- Enrich Iowa funding for libraries has been cut 39% ($1,071,864) over the past two years, due to the elimination of funding from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund. Enrich Iowa funds go to Direct State Aid and the Open Access & Interlibrary Loan Reimbursement programs. Each librarian should include a brief story about what the cuts mean to their library customers.
- Impact of cuts in funding for Iowa Library Services/State Library
- Funding for Iowa Library Services/State Library has been cut 37% ($1,304,063) over the past three years.
- As a result of the cuts and associated staff reductions, the following services for Iowans and their libraries have been cut back or eliminated:
- State Data Center: It takes twice as much time for the State Data Center to evaluate and deliver census and demographic information – used for economic development, grant writing, and more - through the SDC website.
- Websites for public libraries: Development of Iowa's 300+ library PLOW websites – which bring library services to Iowans at home & work 24/7 – has been suspended.
- Medical information: The state Medical Library was closed.
- Patents & trademark information: The state Patents and Trademark library was closed.
- Books for the state library collection: There have been no state dollars for purchasing books for the Law Library or Iowa Library Services Main Library for three years.
- Loss of federal funds: More than $100,000 in federal Institute of Museum & Library Services funding – used for the SILO Interlibrary Loan program, the Summer Reading Program, and much more – has already been lost because of state funding cuts.
- Vital library services need state support
- Iowans and their libraries need state funding for Iowa Library Services so the agency can support these heavily used services:
- Audio books and e-books
- Online resources & databases to help Iowans prepare for educational and career opportunities
- Assistance in delivering books from one library to another
- Iowans and their libraries need state funding for Iowa Library Services so the agency can support these heavily used services:
- Library use continues to go UP
- Iowa libraries are busier than ever. More than two-thirds of all Iowans have active public library cards, and use increases each year.
- Every day, more than 55,000 Iowans walk through the doors of public libraries in our state.
- State funding for libraries should not be going down when both library use and the state budget are going up.
Begin thinking about the message and the story you can tell your legislators on Wednesday. Whether you make a phone call or send emails, we can send a powerful message on Lobby from Home Day about how important libraries are to Iowans.
Advocacy Hotline
February 4, 2012 January 24, 2012 October 20, 2011 GAC Update
GAC Update 5/13/2011 April 15, 2011 April 2, 2011 March 19, 2011
March 5, 2011 February 19, 2011 February 5, 2011 January 22, 2011