ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 10, Number 15
March 2, 2001

In this issue:
	ESEA SENATE URGENT ACTION NEEDED: SECOND ALERT

The Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee is 
planning a mark-up of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
reauthorization on March 7. The date has been changed from March 5 
to later in the week.

Your help is needed to get S. 327, the Improving Literacy Through 
School Libraries Act of 2001, included in the Committee version of 
ESEA reauthorization.  S. 327 would authorize $500 million to 
support acquisition of school library media resources, well-
trained certified school library media specialists, and access to 
library resources after school hours.

The bill is supported by both Republican and Democratic Senators, 
but there are no sponsors from the Republican membership of the 
Committee. Without additional Republican support from the 
committee for the bill, it will not be included in the ESEA 
reauthorization.  
 
School library supporters from the following states should contact their Senators, explaining 
the importance of dedicated funding for school libraries.   Ask for their affirmative vote for S. 
327

(Capitol Switchboard Number is: (202-224-3121)

Virginia: Senators John Warner (FAX: 202-224-6295); Vermont: Jim 
Jeffords (202- 228-5044); New Hampshire: Judd Gregg (202-224-
4952); Tennessee: Bill Frist (202-228-1264); Wyoming: Michael Enzi 
(202-228-0359); Arkansas: Tim Hutchinson (202) 228-3973);  
Missouri: Kit Bond (202-224-8149);  Kansas: Pat Roberts (202-224-
3514); Maine: Susan Collins (202-224-2693);  Alabama: Jeff 
Sessions (202-224-3149).

In addition, school library supporters from the sponsor states 
should thank their members and encourage them to seek out other 
senatorial sponsors for the legislation:

Capitol Switchboard Number is (202-224-3121)
Sponsors of the bill are: Senators Jack Reed (D-RI); Thad Cochran 
(R-MS); Ted Kennedy (D-MA); Christopher Dodd (D-CT); Jeff Bingaman 
(D-NM); Paul Wellstone (D-MN); Patty Murray (D-WA); Barbara 
Mikulski (D-MD); Hillary Clinton (D-NY); Lincoln Chafee (R-RI); 
John Rockefeller (D-WV); Harry Reid (D-NV); Paul Sarbanes (D-MD); 
Max Baucus (D-MT).

? Describe the situation in your school library, system or state. 
? Statistics show that well-equipped school libraries supported 
by certified school library media specialists contribute to 
rising achievement scores of students.  (See the Keith  Curry 
Lance studies at www.lrs.org). 
? Average expenditures in elementary schools for materials are 
around $7.00, hardly enough for half a book per child. 
? Academic success for all students must include a serious 
commitment in spending for school library resources. 


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