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Day in the District Talking Points
Day in the District is fast approaching! I hope you will be able to join the effort to make sure every California State Legislator has an opportunity to meet with library representatives on January 26th or February 2nd. Remember to register for appointments at www.legiday.net (username=member, password=member)!
The primary focus of Day in the District is to strengthen the relationship between legislators and the libraries in their District, however it also provides an opportunity to encourage the Legislator to support better funding for libraries state-wide.
The following "talking points" may be helpful as you prepare for your meetings:
- Libraries across California provide reading resources, lifelong learning opportunities, career development, educational support, and access to technology and information to every California resident
- Historically approximately 0.05% (or 1/2 of 1/10 of 1%!) of California's general fund moneys are directed to California libraries through the State Library for important services and programs such as:
- The Public Library Foundation (PLF) which provides a small amount of funding distributed on a per capita basis to every public library in the state. In 2006 PLF funding was approximately $0.57 per capita
- Transaction-based reimbursement (TBR) which promotes sharing of resources by reimbursing academic, public, and special libraries for a small portion of the cost of serving people from other jurisdictions through Inter-Library Loan and reciprocal "over the counter" borrowing arrangements
- Adult and Children's Literacy programs
- Library services and access to information for the blind, disabled, and other under-served populations
- Library services for the State Legislature and employees
- Preservation of historical documents, photos, and other resources
- Studies in other states show that every $1 invested in library services delivers at least $4 in economic value to citizens
- The California Library Association is working with Senator Joseph Simitian to prepare a new Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act for consideration by the Legislature. Please ask your Legislators for their support.
Remember that it can take some time for the Legislative Contact to set up the appointment. If the database does not yet list an appointment date and time with your Legislator please keep checking.
Thank you!
Kathy Gould, CLA Day in the District Coordinator
Posted on January 23, 2007 1:32 PM | Permalink