ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 13, Number 62
September 13, 2004

In This Issue: Help Restore Funding for NTIA's TOP

CONTACT YOUR SENATOR IMMEDIATELY AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR AMERICA'S LIBRARIES 

ACTION NEEDED: Contact your Senator immediately and ask them to restore funding for the NTIA's Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) in the FY 2005 Commerce, Justice and State Appropriations bill.

This week the Senate Appropriations Committee will mark up the FY 2005 Commerce Appropriations bill, and the NTIA's Technology Opportunities Program is in danger of being eliminated. Now is the time to show your support for this important program.  

The projects - including many in public libraries - funded by TOP identify specific public needs in communities that have not been reached by traditional methods, and use innovative technology solutions to fill these needs. TOP is an example of how the federal government, the nonprofit and private sectors, and the communities they serve can partner to make real changes in people's lives.  These partnerships often outlast the grant period and transcend the original objectives.  The majority of the projects themselves become self-sustaining, continuing to bring communities together and to spur interest and investment in technology applications long after the grant has ended.  

Use ALA's Washington Office Legislative Action Center at  to identify and fax your Members of Congress in both the House and the Senate.  

You can also call your Member of Congress directly using the U.S. Capitol switchboard at: (202) 224-3121.


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ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff.  Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff. Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Carol Ashworth, Camille Bowman, Don Essex, Joshua Farrelman, Patrice McDermott and Miriam Nisbet. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Carrie Lowe, Kathy Mitchell, Carrie Russell. ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.