ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 8, Number 35 April 13, 1999 In this issue: [1] Action Needed: House Co-Sponsors Needed For Bill to Repair Schools and Libraries [2] New NRC Report Proposes Framework To Encourage Fluency With Information Technology [1] Action Needed: House Co-Sponsors Needed For Bill to Repair Schools and Libraries Action Needed: By April 22 Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (D-CA) intends to introduce legislation to provide financing for repair, replacement and improvement of schools and public libraries. Library supporters interested in such assistance should call their House member to sign on to Rep. Tauscher's proposal "Building Blocks for Better Schools and Libraries." The ALA Washington Office has been working with Rep. Tauscher's staff member Nicole Heynneman (phone: 202-225-1880), who should be contacted to be added as a bill sponsor. The Legislation The "Building Blocks for Better Schools and Libraries" proposal would establish State Infrastructure Banks (SIBS) for school and library construction and would offer loan and credit enhancement assistance such as low interest loans, bond financing security, loan guarantees, or credit support for financing projects resulting in lower interest costs. As loans are repaid the SIBs would be replenished and could make new loans or loan guarantees. This model has been used for Clean Water Act improvements through state revolving funds. The bill would authorize $250 million each year for five years to capitalize the banks, after which time sufficient funds should be revolving to continue. The bill is modeled on one introduced by Rep. Tauscher last year (H.R. 1822), which only included schools. This year's proposal will add eligibility for public libraries. As of April 13, the following Members of Congress have agreed to be co-sponsors of the legislation: Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX); Calvin Dooley (D-CA); John Lewis (D-GA); James McGovern (D-MA); Allen Boyd (D-FL); Bob Filner (D-CA); Tim Holden (D-PA); John Tierney (D-MA); Brad Sherman (D-CA); Zoe Lofgren (D-CA); James Moran (D-VA); Tim Roemer (D-IN); Nicholas Lampson (D-TX); George Brown (D-CA); Donald Payne (D-NJ); Donna Christian-Christensen (D- VI); Bob Etheridge (D-NC); Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); "Pete" Fortuney Stark (D-CA); Matthew Martinez (D-CA); Ronny Shows (D-MS); Gene Green (D-TX); Anthony Weiner (D-NY); Peter DeFazio (D-OR); John Conyers (D-MI); and John Dingell (D-MI). [2] New NRC Report Proposes Framework To Encourage Fluency With Information Technology On April 8 the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB) of the National Research Council announced the release of a new report, "Being Fluent with Information Technology." The study was funded by the National Science Foundation. The study committee, chaired by Larry Snyder from the University of Washington, sought to understand what people need to know in order to use information technology effectively today and to adapt to tomorrow. Although the report is mainly focused on technology, it covers a broad range of literacy issues that are of concern to libraries and library education, such as what information workers and users of the future need to know. The report also approaches the problem of understanding information technology from the standpoint of "fluency." Fluency requires a deeper understanding of how computers work and mastery of technology for information processing, communication, and problem solving. Developing fluency is a life-long learning process that requires people to continually build on their knowledge of information technology to apply it more effectively in their lives. Fluency is also characterized by different levels of sophistication in a person's understanding and use of technology. The pre-publication version of this report (subject to further editorial correction) is available on the Web at http://www2.nas.edu/cstbweb. The final version will be available online at the same address, and in book form by mid-May through the National Academy Press (phone: 800-624-6242 or http://www.nap.edu). ****** 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: Phyllis Albritton, Mary Costabile, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan, Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.