Advocacy Updates from Indiana Library Federation
February 16, 2018
President proposes elimination of IMLS
Earlier this week, the White House issued its proposed budget for 2019. Like last year, the president proposed eliminating the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated to America’s libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Federal funding through LSTA provides over $3 million a year to Indiana libraries--supporting InfoExpress, Evergreen, summer reading, digitization grants, services for the blind and visually impaired and much more. Read ALA's District Dispatch post .

Additionally, t he draft budget proposes cuts to many important programs important to patrons, students and communities, including SNAP, Medicaid, low-income energy assistance, financial aid for college and more.
Updates from the Statehouse
The Indiana General Assembly continues to see announcements of legislators not running or stepping down. Long-term Senate President Pro Tem David Long announced he will step down in November. This is just one of many updates in the Report from Bose Public Affairs for Feb. 16 . Note that you have to be signed in as an ILF member for access to these important updates. Contact the office if you forgot your login or password.

Here are some other quick links:
State Library bill will be heard Wed, Feb. 21
State Library - Historical Bureau Merger
HB1412 officially merges the Indiana State Library (ISL) with the Indiana Historical Bureau (IHB) and makes technical changes to clean up the petition process. The bill also removes a limitation on the location on a future Archives building. The bill passed out of the House 90-0. ILF testified in support of the ISL-IHB merger at the Jan. 30 hearing and will support through the Senate. The Senate Public Policy Committee is scheduled to hear the bill on Wed, Feb. 21, at 1:30pm. You may watch it live .

The ILF Advocacy/Legislative Committee meets monthly to review bill language, possible impacts on libraries and patrons and then makes recommendations about actions. The committee is monitors bills related to tax policy, school issues and intellectual freedom.
Attend Third House sessions
Legislators meet with constituents in " Third House " or " Meet your Legislator " events within districts. Most legislators will offer a preview or update of the types of legislation being considered during the short session of the Indiana General Assembly . Let us know if you plan to attend one of the upcoming sessions, as we can provide talking points and updates specific to your legislators.
  • Bartholomew County - every Monday 7:30am
  • Greater Lafayette - February 17
  • Hendricks County - February 26
  • Henry County - February 23
  • Huntington County - February 10 at 10:00am
  • Kokomo - February 23
  • Madison County - February 26
  • Middlebury - February 17
  • Muncie - February 23
  • Orange County - February 17
Thanks to Indiana Association of United Ways for maintaining the statewide calendar or the printable version . More dates are added as they are scheduled or known.
Register for End-of-Session Wrap Up on March 16
ILF has hosted special virtual updates with public library directors. We want to invite all ILF members to a special end of session virtual update . The virtual meeting will be held Friday, March 16, at 11amET .
Help us with the remaining districts in the
ILF School Library Census

Despite substantial progress on the ILF 2018 School Library Census Survey , we still need help to complete. We aim to survey nearly 2,000 schools in nearly 300 districts.

Districts without a red "v" on the map at left still need to be surveyed. We especially need help in the following 30 counties : Carroll, Cass, Clark, Clinton, Daviess, Floyd, Greene, Knox, Lake, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Montgomery, Newton, Ohio, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, St. Joseph, Starke, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Wabash, Warrick, Washington and White.

Submit the volunteer form (include the school district you will survey) or contact the office .
Indiana Library Federation 2018 Policy Priorities
The ILF 2018 Policy Priorities include a continued focus on broadband expansion initiatives, lifelong learning initiatives and support for effective school libraries and certified librarians in K12 education.

You might also review the Indiana Adult Literacy Study which is referenced in the policy priorities.
Legislative Updates from Bose Public Affairs
Matt Long serves as our primary account manager with Bose Public Affairs , our contracted firm for government affairs and lobbying. Through our contract, we have access to the entire team of government affairs experts.

See the latest report from Bose Public Affairs for a summary of news from the Statehouse. (Remember that Bose Reports require your ILF Member Login. Contact us if you forgot your login or password.)