ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 10, Number 21 March 22, 2001 In this issue: [1] Emily Sheketoff Testifies Before House Appropriations Subcommittee [2] Upcoming IMLS Grant Deadlines Emily Sheketoff, Executive Director of the ALA Washington Office, today testified before the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee on FY2001 appropriations for library programs and Title VI. This year's testimony marks the fourth time in the last ten years that the Washington Office request to testify has been granted. This year the Subcommittee is chaired by Ralph Regula (R-OH). Sheketoff requested reauthorization of the Library Services and Technology Act at $500 million, and asked for a $350 million down- payment for library programs authorized under LSTA. Sheketoff asked for an increase in state grant funding, noting that the State grant program for libraries funding has not increased significantly in recent years: in fiscal 1997 it was $136 million, and in fiscal 2001 it is $148 million. Sheketoff stressed the importance of funding of Title VI, Innovative Education Program Strategies, the block grant that allows purchase of school library and instructional materials as a choice for spending. She asked for at least the level the subcommittee approved in FY2000, $400 million. Rep. Regula, a former teacher and father of a school librarian, told Sheketoff that she was "preaching to the choir," and he understood the importance of libraries. However, he was concerned that the budget allocations (302b) to the subcommittee might not be enough to cover all the needs. The full text of Sheketoff's statement can be seen at http://www.ala.org/washoff/sheketofftestimony.html. ACTION NEEDED: Library Supporters should begin now to gather compelling stories of programs that work in their communities and that could be replicated across the country with a doubling of allocations. It is expected that the Presidential budget (which will be released after April 9) may include a smaller increase for education than anticipated. The House Budget Committee's budget restoration would set FY2002 discretionary budget authority at a four percent increase over FY2001. [2] UPCOMING IMLS GRANT DEADLINES Funds For Native American Libraries In 2001, IMLS will award approximately $2,520,000 in grants to Native American Libraries. With three categories of grants for Native American Libraries, IMLS helps improve services for an important part of the nation's community of library users. Currently, IMLS is accepting applications in the Enhancement grants category. Applicants may apply for up to $150,000. Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages (as recognized by the Department of Interior) must have already applied for Basic grants this fiscal year to be eligible to apply for Enhancement grants. Application forms and more information about IMLS' Native American Enhancement grants can be accessed at: http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/030101-1.htm The postmark application deadline is May 1, 2001. National Leadership Grants for Library-Museum Collaborations, April 1, 2001. Revisions to Five-Year State Plans for Library Grants are due on April 1, 2001. Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants are due on May 1, 2001. ****** 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.