• Save The Date!!
  2012 CLA Annual Conference
  November 2nd - 4th
  San Jose, CA

• ALA Preconference
  sponsored by the California Library Association
  Friday, June 22, 2012
  1:00pm - 4:00pm
  $149

• Don't miss out on our Spring Fling 2012 Training Workshops!

• ALA Preconference: Finding Solid Ground with Jeremy Hunter.   Register Today!

Latest News

Your Help Is Needed - Contact Legislative Leaders To Save Library Budget Funding 

As reported yesterday, due to the state’s $15.7 billion deficit, the Governor’s May Revision of the State Budget does not contain any proposed funding for public libraries – most specifically, there is no funding in the State Budget for the California Library Services Act, nor the Public Library Foundation, nor the state literacy services program. Because of this situation, not only are these programs in jeopardy, but so is approximately $16 million in federal funding. [read more]

Governor Releases "May Revision" of Budget - Poor Revenues Mean No Surprise Funding For Libraries

This morning in a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Jerry Brown released his “May Revision” of the 2012-13 Budget and somberly announced, “I’m laying out some pretty tough cuts.” The “May Revise,” as it is also known, allows the Governor to make adjustments to his January Budget, after having received the latest cash receipts and projections for the economy. While there had been hope for a slight uptick in the economy during the first few months of the year, unfortunately the state’s tax receipts lagged much more than originally projected. [read more]

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hears Library Funding Issues

Late yesterday afternoon, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance met to discuss the State Budget as it pertains to the State Library, and specifically the Budget’s impacts on the California Library Services Act, the Public Library Foundation, and the state literacy program. Members of the Budget Subcommittee were vocal in their displeasure with the complete and total elimination of all state funding for public libraries in the Budget, as well as the imminent threat of the loss of a significant amount of corresponding federal dollars. [read more]

Senate Budget Committee Hears Library Funding Issue: Takes No Action - Leaves it "Open" For Now

This morning CLA and library supporters testified before the Senate Budget Subcommittee Number One on Education Finance at the State Capitol, in an effort to encourage the legislature to support an action to restore $15.2 million in funding for the California Library Services Act, the Public Library Foundation, and the state literacy program. As you are aware, the Governor’s Budget last year proposed eliminating all $30.4 million in total funding for these three programs. [read more]

Who's Afraid of Comic Books?

Comic book authors Ed Brubaker, Hope Larson, Stan Sakai, and Steven Seagle to feature at CLA workshop on May 17th, 2012. If you are interested in creating, maintaining, and enhancing your comic book collection, please join us for this informative workshop presented by librarians and comic book professionals. [read more]

CLA Announces 2012 Beatty Award Winner!

San Mateo, CA-- One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street by Joanne Rocklin has been selected by the California Library Association to receive its prestigious Beatty Award.“I’m absolutely thrilled and honored,” said Rocklin. “I’ve always keenly admired the intent of the Beatty Award which makes receiving it all the more meaningful.”. [read more]

CLA 2012 Legislative Spring in the District is here!

Spring in the District is here and it’s time to meet with your legislators about restoring state funding to California’s libraries. To make these meetings as easy as possible, CLA is providing talking points, tips for lobbying your legislator and a list of lead contacts and appointment schedule. This is the time to get involved! Without $15.2 million in State matching funds, California will lose its Federal Funding ($16 million) for libraries. Prevent a double whammy!. [read more]

Saving Library Funding in the Budget - Letters Still Needed!

As you are aware, Governor Brown’s January 2012-13 Budget does not provide any funding for public libraries, and over the last two weeks we have been asking CLA members, friends groups, literacy advocates and others to write letters in support of restoration of $15.2 million in this year’s Budget. $15.2 million will not only protect the integrity of the three programs in jeopardy – the California Library Services Act, the state literacy program, and the Public Library Foundation, but it will also allow the State Library to draw down millions of dollars in federal funding to support programs such as the Braille and Talking Books program . [read more]

Saving Public Library Funding in the State Budget - Hearing Dates Announced!

The Senate and Assembly Budget Committees have each held a general overview hearing of the Governor’s January Budget, and in the coming weeks they will be breaking up into Budget Subcommittees, in order to examine particular Budget subject matters more thoroughly. For example, issues pertaining to the State Library and public library funding will be reviewed by the Senate Budget Subcommittee Number One on Education Finance and the Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number Two on Education Finance. [read more]

CLA Award Nomination Forms Now Available!

The CLA Award nomination forms are now available online. The California Library Association honors members of the California library community every year at its annual Awards Gala. [read more]

CLA Scholarships Now Available!

CLA Scholarship applications are now available online. CLA's scholarships recognize future leaders in the California library community. All scholarship recipients are honored at the annual CLA Awards Gala. [read more]

California Library Association Legislative Alert!

Governor Brown's proposed budget for FY 12/13 has no money for public libraries. We're asking the State Legislature to restore $15.2 million in funding. You can help!. [read more]

A Letter From the CLA President!

Spring is just around the corner. It’s the time for new beginnings and shedding of our winter coats. Here at the California Library Association, we celebrate spring by sponsoring the annual Spring Fling and by welcoming in the planning process for this year’s annual California Library Association Conference. In light of this being a time of changing seasons, the California Library Association has some exciting news regarding changes to this year’s conference, and I’d like to briefly tell you about these changes and why they were implemented, and why I believe these changes will be extremely beneficial to our organization and its members. [read more]

Sign Up For the first ALA Preconference session Sponsored by the California Library Association!

Please join us for a workshop that will help your summer reading program stay vital, dynamic, and relevant! CLA will be sponsoring an ALA preconference in Anaheim on Friday, June 22nd. Participants will learn effective techniques for planning and presenting successful outcomes- and outreach-based summer reading programs. [read more]

Governor Brown Releases 2012-13 Budget Early, Due to Mix-Up

Governor Jerry Brown was scheduled to release his January 2012-13 Budget next Tuesday at 9 a.m., per the annual constitutional deadline. However, at some point today the Administration became aware that the Department of Finance had accidentally posted an early copy of the Governor’s 2012-13 Budget to its public website, which necessitated a quick change in plans for the Governor. At 1:30 p.m. we received word that the Governor would call the press corps together at 2:30 p.m. today to unveil the Budget a little ahead of schedule. [read more]

Department of Finance Says Budget "Trigger" Will Be Pulled

Shortly after noon today, Governor Brown, flanked by his Director of the Department of Finance, announced that despite a modest improvement in the economy, (November sales tax receipts were up, as well as capital gains on upper income earners) state revenues have not rebounded sufficiently. As such, the Governor announced that the so-called “Tier 1” trigger and a portion of the “Tier 2” trigger will be pulled. [read more]

And the Winner is..........

Better World Books announces the $1,000 grant awarded by CLA member votes for the California Library Literacy Program they found most inspirational! [read more]

LAO Revenue Forecast Could Mean "Trigger Cuts"

Today the State’s respected non-partisan Legislative Analyst released his highly anticipated revenue forecast that will be used to evaluate whether or not the so-called “Budget Trigger” will be pulled in the New Year. As you will recall from our previous memos to the field, the “Budget Trigger,” AB 121 (statutes of 2011) was created during the 2011 Budget negotiations to serve as a balancing mechanism should $4 billion in anticipated state revenues not materialize. [read more]

Trigger Bill Sample Letter (click to download )

California’s public libraries are once again threatened with funding cuts. Because actual revenues are falling way below projections, the trigger cuts are looming large on the horizon. What can you do to help avoid the loss of approximately $15 million in funding for public library programs? Please write to the governor, your state senator and your assembly-member, asking them to spare the public libraries from the cuts that may be imposed because of AB 121. Here is a sample letter you may adapt as appropriate.

For more information, go to http://www.cla-net.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=8

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