ALA Chapter Councilor's Report - ALA Annual Conference
Mary Rzepczynski, ALA Chapter Councilor, attended ALA's Annual Conference, representing Michigan. The ALA Chapter Councilor Report gives you indepth coverage of conference proceedings including Chapter Relations, Membership, ALA Council Actions and Library Advocacy Day. This is an excellent overview of actions at ALA's Annual Conference that affect libraries and library professionals throughout the country.
MLA Action Alert: 2010-11 Funding for state aid/MeL/MeLCat
While legislators work to address a 2010-11 budget shortfall of approximately $300 million, they have appointed the conference committee that negotiates the budget for state aid for libraries. This is a critical step in the budgeting process for statewide services for libraries. The Senate adopted budget includes $ 6 million in state aid and the House version calls for $ 7 million. However, the funding increase in the House is contingent upon additional revenue streams that are speculative. We have a long way to go to get $ 7 million out of the conference committee.
MLA Defeats Wheeler-Smith Amendment
The Michigan Library Association defeated the Wheeler-Smith amendment April, 2010, that would have diverted penal fines from the new texting law to other funding sources. According to section 9 of the State Constitution, penal fines are mandated to go to libraries.
MLA Opposes Wheeler-Smith Amendment that Diverts Library Funding
Representative Alma Wheeler-Smith offered an amendment to the Texting While Driving Ban legislation, SB 468, that diverts civil fines from public and county law libraries to the general fund. The amendment was adopted and the bill was sent back to the Senate for concurrence. Read the amendment and contact your State House and Senate legislators today to oppose the amendment.
Library Community Testifies Before the House/Senate Education Appropriations Committee February 18
A cross-section of the library community delivered a compelling message about efficient, effective statewide library services and the value of the MeLibrary before a combined House/Senate Education Appropriations Committee hearing on February 18. Speakers included: Marcia Warner, Grand Rapids Public Library, Victor Liu, Washtenaw Community College, Jim Seidl, Woodlands Library Cooperative, Kathleen McBroom, Dearborn Public Schools and Cliff Haka, Michigan State University Libraries. The committee members were visibly impressed by the variety of institutions represented and the common agenda. MLA released a harsh press release prior to the hearing, holding the Legislature accountable for severe cuts to libraries.
