ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 10, Number 7 February 6, 2001 In this issue: [1] Reed School Libraries Bill to be Introduced: Sponsors Needed [2] 21ST Century Community Learning Center Legislation Introduced in House [3] Education Policy Outline & 2002 Budget [4] IMLS Makes State Library Awards, Grants Available [1] REED SCHOOL LIBRARIES BILL TO BE INTRODUCED-SPONSORS NEEDED At this writing, Senator Jack Reed has sent out a letter to fellow Senators asking for support for the "Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Act," similar to the school library legislation he introduced last year. In his letter, Senator Reed cites the studies of Colorado, Pennsylvania and Alaska done by Keith Curry Lance (www.lrs.org) which show that students perform better on reading and other achievement tests when they have access to a well-equipped and well-staffed school library. ACTION NEEDED: Library supporters are urged to contact their Senators and ask them to co-sponsor the Reed legislation. Direct calls to Senators' offices are needed from constituents. Senators who wish to sign on as co-sponsors of the legislation should contact staff person Elyse Wasch in Senator Reed's office. The Capitol Switchboard Number is: (202) 224-3121. Last year, these Senators co-sponsored the Reed School Libraries Bill: Senator Max Baucus (D-MT); Senator Lincoln D. Chafee (R-RI); Senator Thomas Daschle (D-SD); Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL); Senator John E. Kerry (D-MA); Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD); Senator Harry M. Reid (D- NV); Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN); Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM); Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS); Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT); Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA); Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR); Senator Patty Murray (D-WA); Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD). [2] 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN HOUSE On January 31, Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA) introduced H.R. 323, legislation to amend the 21st Century Community Learning Center law to allow public libraries to participate as lead agencies for the after- school program. Currently, the law allows libraries to participate as part of a partnership with schools as the lead agency. ACTION NEEDED: In order for the legislation to be considered by the House Education and the Workforce Committee, many more sponsors will be needed for the legislation. Library supporters are encouraged to contact Representatives to sign on to H.R. 323. The Capitol Switchboard Number is (202) 224-3121. [3] EDUCATION POLICY OUTLINE & 2002 BUDGET The first several weeks of the Bush Administration have produced a flurry of activity on the education front and now on the tax front. The Administration forwarded an outline of a broad education proposal entitled "No Child Left Behind," which includes a plan to consolidate a variety of programs and broaden access to some programs, like after school programs and a reading and literacy initiative for K-2. In addition, a variety of initiatives were introduced including initiatives to ensure accountability; charter schools and voucher programs; and a consolidation of the technology programs that includes moving the E-rate to the Department of Education. In the first few weeks, the Bush initiative has been answered quickly by legislation introduced to address some or all of these issues in a variety of ways on the House and Senate side. As the debate begins on legislation for tax provisions, the dialogue will take place against a backdrop of a much larger projected surplus over the next ten years--$5.6 trillion. Commentaries on the dialogue have shifted from the questions "when" and "if" to "how much." Some Democrats, particularly Senator Zell Miller (D-GA), have joined with the Administration to call for a tax cut, while some, particularly Senator Robert Byrd (D-WVA) are cautioning against precipitous action. While the Congressional Budget Office projections are rosy, the greatest part of the surplus is expected to appear after 2006. Many caution that too large a cut now may bump up against a slight recession and create more deficit. Budget for 2002 The Administration will address Congress on February 27 with a speech outlining broad policy. A specific budget for FY2002 may be produced later in March or early April, which could cause the Budget Resolution process to be slower. [4] IMLS Makes State Library Awards, Grants Available IMLS made grants totaling $148,939,000 under the Library Services and Technology Act to library agencies in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories in January 2001. Upon making the awards, Acting Director of IMLS Sheppard called the awards, "the premier federal grant program for libraries." For the full press release from IMLS and for examples of how your state library uses IMLS funds, please click on http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/013101.htm Funding is currently available for Museum and Museum-Library Partnerships. In 2001, IMLS will award approximately $22.6 million in grants to museums and museum-library partnerships. IMLS is accepting applications for funds under 5 grant programs and encourages all types of museums and library partners to apply. Deadlines are March 1, March 15, and April 1. For details, please click on: http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/020101.htm or call IMLS at 202-606-8339. Upcoming Grant Deadlines: Applications for several grant programs are due in March and April 2001: (REMINDER: The dates provided are postmark deadlines.) * Native American Basic Library Services Grants & Technical Grants, March 1, 2001. * Museum Assessment Program Grants, March 15, 2001. National Leadership Grants for: * Museums Online, March 1, 2001 * Museums in the Community, March 1, 2001 * Professional Practices (for museums), March 1, 2001 * Library-Museum Collaborations, April 1, 2001. * Revisions to Five-Year State Plans for Library Grants are due on April 1, 2001 Applications, guidelines, electronic fill-in forms, and sample narratives for all IMLS grant programs are available at: http://www.imls.gov/grants/appl/index.htm NOTE: Electronic fill-in applications forms are now available for National Leadership Grants. ****** 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. 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. ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.