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Letter to President Obama
The White House
ATTN: President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC, 20500
Re: Investing in America's Future through Libraries
Dear President Obama,
The 3,400 members of the California Library Association congratulate you on your election and thank you for reminding the American public about the importance of libraries and the struggles that they currently face.
Libraries across California and the nation are serving growing numbers of people who increasingly rely on us for resources and information to help them improve their lives. Whether they are adult learners, students, parents, new Americans, job seekers, or older adults, California residents depend on our libraries to provide them with access to information, lifelong learning opportunities, skills training, and community gathering places. At the same time, many of our libraries lack sufficient space to meet this demand, and are not physically capable of providing the infrastructure to support computer and broadband access that our communities need. Additionally, libraries are facing funding shortfalls as a result of the current economic downturn.
As you examine strategies to stimulate the economy and create jobs, it is our hope that you will include libraries in any federal economic stimulus package. As you know, libraries help people attain employment, assist in small businesses growth, contribute to community economic development, provide lifelong support for education - including the development of essential literacy skills - and provide free public access to computers and the Internet.
CLA supports your planned economic stimulus package to help get the American economy moving and help people find work. Since libraries are part of the basic tools of a community's workforce, we respectfully ask that you consider including libraries in your proposed economic stimulus plans.
The greater library community is excited to have a President who understands, and has experienced the value of libraries. We wish you every success as you face the challenges ahead. And we offer our support and assistance in any way possible in issues related to libraries.
With hope and respect,
Barbara L. Roberts, President
California Library Association
717 20th Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95811
916-447-8541
info@cla-net.org
Posted on January 13, 2009 7:31 AM | Permalink