Statehouse Updates
April 7, 2017
Explain the importance of Internet in libraries in these final two weeks of state budget negotiations.
The Senate approved a version of the budget without the additional funds for school and library internet connectivity that were included in the House version. If your library benefits from Internet Connectivity grant funds, please share your story with your state Senator and Representative within the next week. Politely request they reinstate the modest increase for school or library internet connectivity. Illustrate with specific examples from your school or library. Look up your Representative and Senator here and sample short "ask" message . 
Bills in the final weeks of the session of the Indiana General Assembly 
Thanks to our Legislative Advocates at Bose Public Affairs, we will continue to provide you:
  • Legislative Update from Bose - includes an overview of the prior week of the session. (archived Bose Reports at bottom of linked page)

  • Bill Tracking List - Note that this is a  list of bills that may relate to our ILF Policy Priorities and for bills that are still alive. We will provide a separate action alert with key facts or talking points when appropriate. 
You write the letter, and then
let us deliver it on May 2 in Washington, D.C. 
ILF is collecting letters to share with our members of Congress about the value of InfoExpress, Evergreen, SRCS, Talking Books, summer reading support and other services from the Indiana State Library. Each of these critical services are supported by the LSTA grant, which is proposed for elimination under the president's budget.

We would like to have l etters from libraries, staff, volunteers, patrons and supporters to deliver in Washington, D.C. when at least five of us will be meeting with members of Congress or their staff on May 2. View our draft letter with suggestions of where to customize. Email Lucinda your letter or a request for help in customizing your letter.
National Library Legislative Day May 1-2
ALA will host its National Library Legislative Day (NLLD), which includes training workshop on May 1 and a day meeting with members of Congress on May 2.  Terry Rheinheimer, Director of Middlebury Public Library, serves as our federal advocacy coordinator. Contact Terry or Lucinda for more info.