[Scla-list] FW: [fllan] Action Alert: Jobs for Main Street Act

Tue Feb 2 14:37:51 MST 2010

Hi everyone,

I contacted the list about this issue last week but as you can see, it
still requires our attention and involvement.  Once again, the Jobs for
Main Street Act is the featured alert on our CapWiz site which makes it
easy to contact Senators Graham and DeMint.  It also provides a number
of helpful talking points.

Tom

From: Kristin K. Murphy [mailto:kmurphy at alawash.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 4:27 PM
To: fllan at ala.org
Cc: Jeffrey P. Kratz
Subject: [fllan] Action Alert: Jobs for Main Street Act

Dear library advocates, 

The ALA Office of Government Relations (OGR) is asking that all state
chapters mobilize library advocates in each state to contact their U.S.
Senators regarding the Jobs for Main Street Act, also known as the "Jobs
Bill." 

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announced today that he and Senator Richard
Durbin will be introducing the senate version of Jobs for Main Street
Act or simply jobs bill.  This bill will be $80 billion aimed at getting
Americans back to work.  Sources on Capitol Hill have indicated that
libraries are not included in this bill, but it does include $18 billion
to hire and retain teachers, $500 million for hiring police and another
$500 million for hiring firefighters.  Because this bill has not been
introduced, there is no bill number yet.

The House in December passed their version of the Jobs for Main Street
Act.  

Ask your advocates to call and email their senators' offices; Call the
U.S. Capital switchboard ASAP at 202.224.3121.  For email addresses and
other contact information go to:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
<http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm> 

The message to advocates - as soon as possible is:

ALA has reports from Congressional offices that they hear from teachers,
police and firefighters every day and almost nothing from the library
community.  Libraries are as essential as schools and public safety and
help the economy by helping people find jobs.  Yet library jobs are
being cut - and, now, not included in this jobs bill.  It is vitally
important that librarians be as vocal as these other public employees.
The reason they are getting funding in this piece of legislation is
because they are calling their congressional offices more often and in
higher numbers than we are.  

Your grassroots efforts are critically important.  The omission of
librarians in the jobs bill is in addition to the troubling news this
week that President Obama's budget proposal freezes the Library Services
and Technology Act (LSTA) and consolidates the school library program
with literacy programs in the Department of Education.  These cuts will
lead to a loss of jobs and a loss of services that our communities
cannot afford to be without.

Please call both of your U.S. Senators to ask each of them to request
that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Richard Durbin
(D-IL), and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND),  include the hiring and
retaining of librarians in the $18 billion as well.  

This bill could come up at any moment and it is critically important
that you contact your Senators' offices immediately and tell them to
push the above Senate leaders to include librarians in the jobs bill.
Don't just call once - keep calling until we succeed.  Make sure to tell
your senators what your library is doing to help people find jobs.  

We cannot let this legislation pass without the inclusion of library
employees.  We have no chance of getting into this legislation without
your calls and emails - and the support of all senators!!

Please act now.

Sincerely,

Kristin Murphy

ALA Washington Office

URGENT MESSAGE TO LIBRARY ADVOCATES: 

Please call both of your U.S. Senators to ask each of them to request
that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Richard Durbin
(D-IL), and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND),  include the hiring and
retaining of librarians in the $18 billion "Jobs Bill" as well.  

BACKGROUND FOR "JOBS FOR MAIN STREET ACT"

1. Libraries play a key role in getting America back to work again.
Nationwide, the library is the only source of no-fee Internet access for
71 percent of Americans. With more and more job applications only being
accepted online, the public library is becoming the center of most
American's job searches.

2. State Library Agencies reported in November 2009 that 77 percent of
states cut funds that support local public libraries, which has meant
layoffs, staff furloughs, and forced retirements. This has caused a 75
percent cut in services to the public including canceled statewide
databases used for job searching, homework help, and cuts in 24/7
reference, which are used by small businesses and students.

3.  Our proposal to be a part of the $20.5 billion program to create
jobs that provide public services would not add any additional funding,
but would give libraries a specific amount to draw on.  

4. The money would be used for library jobs that are focused on
assisting patrons with getting back to work - thereby having the impact
of assisting literally millions of Americans find employment. None of
these funds would be used for facilities or equipment.

5. These funds would be distributed in a clear, concise, affirmative
manner. Funds would be distributed to states using a formula through
IMLS based 50 percent on population, and 50 percent on relative
unemployment (similar to the Department of Labor's Dislocated Worker
Program).

6. The Chief State Library Officer in each state would be responsible
for distributing funds to local public libraries based on their local
needs.

7. A minimum amount of funding per library could offer one library staff
job per building based upon need and a maximum of five full-time staff.

9. Funds would be limited to hiring back staff released due to budget
cuts, recruiting new staff and/or expanding staff services around job
searching and employment skills training.

Call the U.S. Capital switchboard ASAP at 202.224.3121.  For email
addresses and other contact information go to:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
<http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm> 

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