****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ISSN 1069-7799 ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 4, Number 8 February 7, 1995 In this issue: (118 lines) FY96 CLINTON BUDGET FOR LIBRARIES ANNOUNCED *************************************************************************** FY96 CLINTON BUDGET FOR LIBRARIES ANNOUNCED LSCA I AND II ONLY PROGRAMS INCLUDED: The Clinton Administration FY96 budget sent to Congress on February 6 requests funding only for titles I and II of the Library Services and Construction Act. LSCA I, public library services, is recommended for a $6 million increase. LSCA II for public library construction and technology enhancement would be level funded. The other LSCA programs currently funded--title III interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing (under which much Internet connectivity, training, and technical support has been funded) would be zeroed out, along with title VI library literacy projects. The rationale given for eliminating LSCA III is that title I funds could be used for networking and resource sharing activities that improve services provided by public libraries. However, current law does not allow LSCA I funds to be used for any projects that involve more than public libraries, thus making multitype library networking and resource sharing illegal under title I. LSCA II rationale indicates that level funding would allow the purchase of equipment, including technology enhancements that would enable states to expand their networking capabilities and participate in the development of the national information infrastructure. Again, this appears to be at odds with the local library matching projects for buildings or renovations or other capital expenditures that current LSCA II language now permits. HEA LIBRARY PROGRAMS ALL ZEROES: All Higher Education Act library programs ($11,416,000) would be eliminated. The rationale in Department of Education budget documents is that other sources of funding could support these activities. SCHOOL LIBRARY RESOURCES PROGRAM NOT INCLUDED: The budget contains no funding for the new ESEA III-F School Library Resources Program enacted last October. However, ESEA III educational technology programs would be increased from the current $40 million to $83 million. OUTLOOK IN CONGRESS? The details of the Clinton budget are not likely to have much impact in the Republican controlled Congress. However, the fact that the total for Department of Education library programs would be cut from the current $144 million to $106 million (or by 26 percent) will make it that much more difficult to restore the difference or add to it. RESCISSIONS REQUESTED FOR HEA II-B AND LSCA VI: The Administration's budget includes a request that Congress rescind (that is, defund) monies already appropriated for the Higher Education Act title II-B library education and training program, and for the LSCA VI library literacy projects. ACTION NEEDED: All library programs, whether or not included in the President's budget, are at risk of zero funding in fiscal year 1996. All library supporters should contact their Representatives and Senators to urge funding of Department of Education LSCA, HEA, and ESEA library programs at a level of $1 per person in the United States. To meet this goal, Congress should appropriate an additional 43 cents per person to help libraries ramp up, reach out, and retrain for the 21st century. CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FY96 PROPOSED BUDGET TABLE OF SELECTED LIBRARY PROGRAMS PROGRAM FY 1995 Approp. FY 1996 Admin. Req. Library Services and Construction Act $132,745 $106,927 I, public library services 83,227 89,135 II, public library construction 17,792 17,792 III, interlibrary cooperation 23,700 0 IV, Indian library services 2% of LSCA I, II, and III VI, library literacy programs 8,026 0 Higher Education Act $ 11,416 $ 0 II-A, college library technology 0 0 II-B, library education 4,916 0 II-B, research and demonstrations 6,500 0 II-C, research libraries 0 0 ************************************************************************* *************************************************************************** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Internet: alawash@alawash.org; Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363. Editor: Lynne E. Bradley (leb@alawash.org). ALAWON is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. 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