roundtable: Information Access at Risk!! ALERT!!

roundtable: Information Access at Risk!! ALERT!!

Information Access at Risk!! ALERT!!

Laura Powers (lpowers@phantom.com)
Fri, 25 Feb 94 13:35:26 EST 

To: roundtable@cni.org
Subject: Information Access at Risk!! ALERT!!
From: lpowers@phantom.com (Laura Powers)
Message-Id: <R6FBic5w165w@mindvox.phantom.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 94 13:35:26 EST



Libraries are Again At Risk in FY95 Budget

Just after the President called for the extension of the information 
infrastructure to every "school, hospital, and library" in his State 
of the Union address earlier this month, he proposed to scale back 
library programs that could help make this more than just a goal. The 
FY95 Clinton-Gore Budget calls for a $25.9 million cut in Library 
Services and Construction Act funding that would mean the total 
elimination of key programs including public library literacy programs 
and training for librarians.  In addition, the Budget calls for the 
total elimination of funding for Higher Education Act (HEA) programs!

What Does this Mean?

For the foreseeable future, public libraries will be a vital technology 
access point for millions of Americans. And even when (if) every 
American home is "wired," libraries will still be needed to offer the 
training and education vital to the effective use of technology. For 
example, 27 million illiterate Americans will have little chance to 
benefit from digital libraries if public library literacy programs 
(LSCA Title VI) are cut. The Administration's stated aims for technology 
diffusion and for education (See "Goals 2000") cannot be reached if 
public libraries are debilitated.

What can you do?

Write your Senators and member of Congress. Ask that they strongly 
oppose the elimination of federal funding for libraries at a time when 
libraries are crucial to promoting information equity. Your action is 
especially needed if your legislator sits on the House or Senate 
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

Your member of Congress                  Your Senator
U.S. House of Representatives            U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510                     Washington, DC 20510

Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education
SENATE: Byrd (WV), Hollings (SC), Inouye (HI), Bumpers (AK), Reid (NV), 
        Kohl (WI), Murray (WS), Specter (PA), Hatfield (OR), Stevens (AK), 
        Cochran (MS), Gorton (WA), Mack (FL), Bond (MO)

HOUSE: Natcher (KY), Smith (IA), Obey (WI), Stokes (OH), Hoyer (MD), 
       Pelosi (CA), Lowey (NY), Serrano (NY), DeLauro (CT), Porter (IL), 
       Young (FL),Bentley (MD), Bonilla (TX)

Thanks for your help! For more information, contact Libraries for the 
Future 212-682-7446 or by e-mail at lpowers@phantom.com.

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