ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 9, Number 10 February 11, 2000 In this issue: [1] Wand, Kessler Testify on Behalf of LC and GPO Appropriations [2] Kaplan Testifies on Title VI [1] Wand, Kessler Testify on Behalf of LC and GPO Appropriations On February 2, Patricia Wand, university librarian at American University in Washington, D.C., and Ridley Kessler, Jr., regional documents librarian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, testified on behalf of funding for FY2001 for the Library of Congress and the Government Printing Office respectively before the House Subcommittee on Legislative of the Appropriations Committee, chaired by Rep. Charles Taylor (R-NC). Appearing on behalf of ALA, the Association of Research Libraries, the American Association of Law Libraries, and the Special Libraries Association, Wand strongly supported the Library's FY2001 budget request of $428.1 million. She was pleased the Subcommittee was so supportive of the Library of Congress; this support would allow the Library to be poised to meet the challenges of the future. She highlighted the Library's Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped budget request at $48.9 million; the Library of Congress Mass Deacidification Program and its goal of saving one million endangered books over five years; the Law Library request at $8.28 million; the Library's $4.5 million request for collections security controls and its security request for police positions. Rep. Ed Pastor (D-AZ) thanked Wand and noted that the Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped study on digital tapes was underway and would mean an increased request for funding in later years. Wand replied that adaptive technologies were making great strides in enhancing services to library users, and library community would work with the Library of Congress to support this initiative. She added that the library community was looking forward to the Library of Congress' celebration of its bicentennial this year. Local libraries will join the Library of Congress to highlight library contributions to the nation. Kessler, also testifying on behalf of the five library associations, spoke in strong support of the Public Printer's FY2001 budget request of $34.5 million for the Superintendent of Documents Salaries and Expenses appropriations. Kessler stressed the importance of access to government materials through the Federal Depository Library System, which dates back to Resolution 1 in the year 1813. That resolution stated that federal documents should be given to universities and colleges in states. He said the future development of GPO Access online depended on the requested budgetary increase. He cited the growth of downloaded documents as example of the increased demand and need for support. The U.S. Code, which the Government Printing Office will print this year, was one of the most heavily used documents by the public. The paper copy of the U.S. Code is the legal citation used by law schools, lawyers, students and courts, Kessler noted. Copies of the testimony by Patricia Wand and Ridley Kessler, Jr. are available at http://www.ala.org/washoff/statements.html. -- Mary Costabile [2] Kaplan Testifies on Title VI On February 9, Allison Kaplan, coordinator of the school library media specialist program for the School of Education at the University of Delaware, testified before the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families, on Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title VI-Innovative Education Program Strategies. Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE), chair of the subcommittee, greeted the panel composed of Kaplan; Earin Martin, past chair of the Title VI National Steering Committee; Valerie Woodruff, acting secretary of education, Delaware Department of Education; and Sister Suzanne Belenoit, S.S.J., assistant superintendent for government programs from the Archdiocese of Newark, DE. Kaplan thanked members of the subcommittee, particularly Rep. Castle, for their support of Title VI appropriations. Rep. Castle, along with Rep. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), have for three years in a row co-signed a letter of support for Title VI funding and sent it to the House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations. As a result, support from a large number of House members has resulted in much higher appropriations for Title VI on the House side. She stressed the importance of funding Title VI -- currently the only federal support for school libraries in the budget. While Delaware receives between $1 and $2 million, only portions of the funds have been used for school library materials. Kaplan told three stories from Delaware school librarians in which the funds were either central to acquisitions of library materials, or, if they were not available, the students suffered. She urged the subcommittee to consider dedicated funds to school library media centers as in H.R. 3008, introduced by Rep. Major Owens (D-NY) and seventeen other House members, and its companion bill, S. 1262, introduced by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI). If the committee chose to reauthorize Title VI, she suggested a more narrowed focus and increased funding, so more school libraries could use the funding resources. Her testimony included reference to role of school library media specialists, and a Washington Post editorial (see "Madam Cybrarian," Sunday, February 6, 2000; Page B06 at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/2000-02/06/134l- 020600-idx.html) which detailed the mission and role of school library media specialists in the technology age and the need for resources. Also attached was an article entitled, "Era of Neglect in Evidence At Libraries" by Kathleen Kennedy Manzo, from Education Week, December 1, 1999 (read it online at http://www.edweek.com). She cited the cost effectiveness of purchasing materials for school libraries; the fact that the library is often the place where learning takes place; that a major goal of school librarians is to educate children to become lifelong learners; and that the library is the great equalizer, giving information to all children who can make learning discoveries beyond the classroom curriculum. "We all have a big stake in ensuring that the next wave of workers can read, understand what they read, use new technology, make informed decisions and help their children achieve to the fullest extent of their potential," she said. Kaplan told the story of a child who had come to her library story hour since September. All the children at the story hour could take out books to read until the next story hour, but this child never asked to take out a book. This past week, she said, the little girl finally asked for a book. Kaplan said it was an exciting breakthrough which she hoped all school librarians could achieve. Earin Martin stressed the fact that Title VI provides services no other formula federal education program provides. Based on surveys done Title VI is effective in meeting the purposes of the statute. Elimination of Title VI would severely impact the ability of schools, districts, private nonprofit schools and state educational agencies to initiate and/or complete reform initiatives that impact student performance. Valerie Woodruff emphasized that in Delaware, the allocations are targeted into four program categories: (1) library initiatives, (2) school climate and discipline programs, (3) technology acquisitions, and (4)innovative programs aimed at enhancing student achievement. Sister Bellenoit said that through Title VI, "all of our schools have invested heavily in the improvement of their library services and materials, especially software and reference materials which are tied to high academic standards." Small suburban schools form regional consortia to make more effective use of their funding to purchase science equipment, math manipulatives, art supplies and library hardware, she noted. Many subcommittee members mentioned the President's FY2001 budget does not include funding for Title VI. Panelists were asked if Title VI could be changed, how should it be changed. Martin replied that in an environment where high standards are important, it amazed her that the Administration wants to eliminate a program that gives states flexibility to achieve those high standards. Woodruff suggested that Title VI could be adjusted; Kaplan suggested support for H.R. 3008 and S. 1262, believing that a directed funding stream would ensure more dollars would be spent on school libraries. Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ) said that as a former school teacher, she wanted to improve professional standards, and asked the subcommittee whether there were enough options in Title VI. A copy of the testimony by Allison Kaplan is available at http://www.ala.org/washoff/statements.html. -- Mary Costabile ****** 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. 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. Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff; Editor: Deirdre Herman. Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Mary Costabile, Peter Kaplan, Miriam Nisbet and Claudette Tennant. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Jennifer Hendrix, Carrie Russell and Saundra Shirley.