================================================================= ALAWON Volume 5, Number 19 ISSN 1069-7799 April 15, 1996 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: ACTION ALERT - SUPPORT THE EQUITY PETITION DURING NLW SUPPORT PUBLIC ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION _________________________________________________________________ ACTION ALERT - SUPPORT THE EQUITY PETITION DURING NLW It's now National Library Week -- time to really get going on ALA's equity petition. This is a reminder to urge library advocates and all library users to sign and return the equity petition. It's also a reminder to include, not just the signer's e-mail address, but also full name and mailing address information. Many electronic responses are being returned without full information. Thanks to all! SUPPORT PUBLIC ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION Where do you go to ride the information superhighway if you don't own a computer or know how to use one? The same place generations of Americans have turned for books and other resources they need to live, learn, work and govern -- the Library. Please sign and return this Equity Petition by May 1 to equity@alawash.org to register your support for libraries as public access ramps to electronic information. Forward this petition to others whom you know will want to register their support. You may also make print copies and return the signed petitions to the American Library Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1700. The Equity Petition: I believe that free and open access to information is vital to a democratic society. Connecting every school, public, college and university library to the information superhighway is the most logical and economical way of ensuring public access to electronic information and equity on the information superhighway. I want my local, state and federal tax dollars used to help connect libraries. And I urge the President, Congress, my state and local representatives to support policies that ensure Americans in the 21st century will enjoy the same free and open access to information that we do today. Your Name (please print) Street address, city, state, zip _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname]" to . ALAWON archives gopher.ala.org; select Washington Office Newsline. Web page HTTP://www.ala.org/alawashington.html. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Contributors: Carol H. Henderson All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================