ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 11, Number 8
February 14, 2002


In this issue: HEARING ON MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ACT
REAUTHORIZATION HELD IN HOUSE

On February 14, the House Subcommittee on Select Education of the 
House Education and the Workforce Committee held a reauthorization 
hearing on the Museum and Library Services Act.  The Act includes 
the Library Services and Technology Act and expires at the end of 
2002.  

Testifying on behalf of the Institute of Museum and Library 
Services (IMLS) was Dr. Robert Martin, Director of the Institute.  
Appearing on behalf of libraries were Linda Yoder, Director of the 
Nappanee Indiana Public Library in Nappanee, Indiana and Dr. 
Lucille Thomas, Vice Chairman of the Brooklyn Public Library Board 
of Trustees. The representative for museums was Steven Hamp, 
President of the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, 
Dearborn, Michigan. 

Ms. Yoder described a Library Services and Technology grant that 
her library had participated in that "allowed a consortium of 10 
small libraries in northern Indiana to hire technical assistance, 
sharing the same service provider among the participating 
libraries.  Member libraries developed a technology plan, and, 
through grants connected to statewide technology services like 
INCOSLA, the Indiana distance learning initiative…."
Yoder said that without the grant her library might still be years 
away from using technology.

Dr. Thomas detailed the many programs her large Brooklyn Public 
Library system provides for the community.  She described the 
consumer health information training program delivered to over 600 
seniors at the library.  In terms of the summer reading program, 
supported by LSTA funds, she said "for most children in Brooklyn, 
there is no summer camp….it's the Library."  She stressed that 
summer reading programs keep childrens' reading skill levels from 
dropping over the summer.  Thomas also told the subcommittee how 
much the library, librarians and library resources had helped 
parents and children in the aftermath of the World Trade Center 
disaster.

Both library witnesses requested a speedy reauthorization with the 
funding levels set at $500 million.

Dr. Martin, formerly Acting Director of library studies at Texas 
Women's University               and former Texas State Librarian, 
has recently been appointed as the library Director of IMLS.  The 
directorship of the agency rotates between a museum and a library 
professional. Martin was joined by Beverly Sheppard, Director of 
the Museum Programs at IMLS and former acting director of IMLS.   
Martin stated that he was grateful to the subcommittee for holding 
the hearing and that the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 
created by Congress in 1996 was a partnership that was a success.  
Martin said, citizens must be both educated and informed and 
museums and libraries perform many of those functions.  Federal 
dollars serve a vital role in enhancing services and the local 
level.  He detailed some projects in terms of digital technology 
that could not have been accomplished without the impetus of 
federal funds.

The hearing was conducted by Representative Pete Hoekstra, chair 
of the Select Education Subcommittee, assisted by the ranking 
minority member Representative Tim Roemer (D-IN); Representatives 
Major Owens (D-NY), Robert Scott (D-VA), Susan Davis (D-CA), Rush 
Holt (D-NJ), and Patrick Tiberi (R-OH).  Rep Hoekstra said it was 
important to move the reauthorization speedily through the House 
and he intended to do so.


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