ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 8, Number 106 October 15, 1999 In this issue: [1] U.S. Department of Education, American Institute of Architects, AARP Call for Federal Support of School Construction [2] Enhancement Grants to Native American Libraries [1] U.S. Department of Education, American Institute of Architects, AARP Call for Federal Support of School Construction On October 13, under the banner, "Schools As Centers of Community," U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley, American Institute of Architects President Ronald Skaggs, and AARP President Joseph Perkins joined to speak to the need for federal support for school construction. The event was held at the American Institute of Architects building in Washington, D.C. "Some schools are too old and too worn out to be healthy places for learning," Secretary Riley said. Describing the current sorry state of schools across the nation, he cited a New Jersey school where he saw a line of children waiting in a hallway for asthma medicine in a moldy atmosphere that was contributing to their health problem. A clear federal role should be support by grants and funding, said Riley, specifically through several tax credit bills currently in Congress for "cashed strapped" communities struggling to cope with crumbling schools. He referred to H.R. 1660, a bill introduced by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) that currently has 203 House sponsors, and H.R. 1760, a bill by Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT). Both bills would provide tax-exempt bonds for school construction. He said with those combined sponsors perhaps a bill could be petitioned to the floor or attached to a bill currently in play which extends certain tax provisions. Skaggs, president of AIA, described the current need for school construction at around $200 billion and said that AIA supports federal assistance to communities in the form of tax credit bonds. He pledged his organization's support for incorporating the needs of parents, teachers, and students, as well as community needs, into school modernization. Participants received the AIA booklet, "Good Enough for Congress, A Pictorial Representation of Why Americans Deserve Better School Buildings." Color photographs depict the current conditions of public high schools attended by members of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees. The booklet also included the current state school construction and outstanding need throughout the country. Riley, joined by AARP President Joe Perkins, called for an "inter- generational alliance" that would engage older Americans, both as mentors for young people and as users of school resources. He suggested that schools be linked with other community organizations, such as museums, hospitals and zoos, to "create new pathways to learning." He mentioned the Department's 21st Century Learning Centers program which provides grants for after school programs, such as a San Francisco school that is providing counseling, health education and adult education after school hours. Riley then touched on his vision of schools as part of "learning and cultural parks" where, for example, a high school could be clustered with recreational facilities, a public library and other cultural institutions which would encourage a center and contribute to protection of green space. "The quality of life in livable communities is buttressed by improvement, repair and modernization of public schools." The Secretary closed with a statement by Plato -- "that which is honored in a country is that which will be cultivated there," and added that the school, as a vital part of the community, should receive attention and support. "Our attention to quality design of our schools will show the importance we place on an emphasis on learning for all Americans." [2] Enhancement Grants to Native American Libraries Note: The following is a September 24 news release from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information please contact Eileen Maxwell (e-mail: Emaxwell@imls.gov or Mamie Bittner (e-mail: Mbittner@imls.gov ), or call 202-606-8339. Washington, D.C. -- The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced today $1,494,062 in grants to enhance library services to Native Americans. IMLS received 44 applications and made 13 awards. The Native American Library Service program provides new opportunities for improved library services for an important, but often underserved, part of the nation's community of library users. Beverly Sheppard, Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, said, "We applaud the recipients of the Native American Library Services Grants. They are strengthening tribal libraries to increase access to books and other resources." The Native American program offers three types of support: basic, technical assistance, and enhancement support to established libraries serving Indian tribal communities and Alaska Native villages. The basic grants (up to $4,500) and the technical grants (up to $2,000) are awarded to all eligible libraries that apply. The enhancement grants are competitive grants that assist libraries with both traditional and innovative library practices. IMLS is an independent federal agency that fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's 8,000 museums and 122,000 libraries. Created by the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996, P.L. 104-208, IMLS has an annual budget of $190 million. For more information, including grant applications, contact: Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20506, 202-606-8536, or http://www.imls.gov . 1999 NATIVE AMERICAN LIBRARY SERVICES ENHANCEMENT GRANT AWARDS Chickasaw Nation Ada, OK $149,000 This two-year project will enhance access to the collections by developing an automated library system, digitizing archival materials, and establishing an interlibrary-loan consortium. Crow Indian Tribe Crow Agency, MT $87,722 This one-year project will create public access to the Little Big Horn College library materials at different locations on the Crow Reservation, provide training for staff and patrons in the use of electronic resources, and create web access to Crow information resources. Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cherokee, NC $150,000 This two-year project will update computers and the library collection, provide Internet access, and establish a tribal archival collection. Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Hayward, WI $127,867 This two-year project will record and preserve the oral history of the tribe, create a rotating photographic and travelling history exhibit, and provide training to the community members on the use of a GIS system. Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Lower Brule, SD $94,624 This one-year project will increase staffing, provide staff training, purchase computer and library equipment, and expand the Native American collection. Lummi Indian Nation Bellingham, WA $149,900 This two-year project will create a Lummi Archive/Museum website to enhance access to tribal materials, provide educational programs focused on tribal history, and upgrade the library's collections and services. Oneida Nation of Wisconsin Oneida, WI $72,315 This one-year project will increase student and teacher access to computers and the Internet by providing a computer lab and networked CD-ROM reference software that supports the elementary and high school curriculum. Pala Band of Mission Indians Pala, CA $64,126 This one-year project will provide access to a computerized network, ensure staff training, and enhance the collection of materials. Pilot Station Traditional Village Pilot Station, AK $68,940 This one-year project will develop and strengthen a regional consortium of village libraries located in the Alaska Native villages of the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta. Pueblo of Zuni Zuni, NM $115,830 This one-year project will upgrade the newly renovated community library by automating the circulation system, installing new furniture and computer workstations, and providing staff training in the use of new technologies. Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Bayfield, WI $130,390 This two-year project will develop the Red Cliff Library as a comprehensive community resource center to serve as the foundation of family literacy services. Sealaska Corporation $149,671 This two-year project will enhance tribal library services by cataloging and digitizing the Sealaska Curry-Weissbrodt collection and improving accessibility to the collection through resource sharing, technology, and training. Spirit Lake Nation Fort Totten, ND $133,677 This two-year project will enhance library services to the community by providing public Internet access and training classes, increasing the electronic media collection of Native American materials, connecting to the state library interlibrary- loan system, and digitizing the tribal archives. ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. 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. Editor: Lynne E. Bradley; Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Sally Benson, Mary Costabile, Peter Kaplan, Miriam Nisbet, Carrie Russell, Emily Sheketoff, Saundra Shirley, Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.