[Libs-Or] ACTION Fwd: MyBudget Website Launches

[Diedre Conkling]

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) has announced a new website where citizens can
voice their budget priorities. Sen. Murray is the Chairman of the Senate
Budget Committee. Here is more information about the website from *CQ:*

** **

"Earlier this week, Murray announced an online effort to engage the public
in the federal budget process. MyBudget, as it is called, is designed to
provide members of the public with an easy way to pass along stories,
ideas, values and priorities related to the budget to Congress."  -CQ,
1/29/13****

** **

Find the website at: http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/index.cfm/mybudget*
***

** **

** **

You are encouraged use this platform to make sure libraries are a priority
in the next budget. Here are some suggested talking points for public and
school libraries:****

** **

* *

*Public Libraries*****

   - 84% of Americans 16 or older have been to a library or bookmobile. In
   the last year, 59% of Americans used library services.****
   - Throughout the economic downturn, patrons have increasingly turned to
   the local library for information on a wide range of subjects, including
   job searching.****
   - In one year, 30 million Americans used library connections to search
   and apply for jobs.****
   - Over 92% of libraries provide access to job databases and online job
   applications.****
   - Although in the last 10 years the number of computer workstations has
   doubled, 87% of urban libraries do not have enough computers to meet the
   daily demand.****
   - Libraries provide an important link between the government and the
   public - when  people need to research court cases, look up a fact from an
   Environmental Protection Agency study or file their taxes they come to the
   library to do it.****
   - Studies show that a child's brain develops the most between birth and
   age three. Many of the 16,604 public libraries in the United States support
   parents and caregivers with early childhood literacy programs that train
   care givers in how to read to children, encourage parents in engaging in
   their children's literacy development and are designed to help young
   children learn to read.****
   - Support funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
   LSTA funding helps libraries meet community needs, better utilize
   technology to provide enhanced services, reach underserved populations, and
   much more.****

*School Libraries*****

   - Research repeatedly shows that an effective school library program is
   an integral component of a student's successful education -Across the
   United States, studies have demonstrated that students in schools with
   effective library programs learn more, get better grades, and score higher
   on assessments than their peers in schools without such resources.****
   - Even though school libraries are where students develop skills they
   will need for the 21st century, only 60 percent of public schools have a
   state-certified school librarian.  ****

** **

** **

** **

Ted Wegner****

Grassroots Coordinator****

American Library Association****

Washington Office-Office of Government Relations****

1615 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., 1st Floor****

Washington, DC 20009-2520****

Phone: 202-628-8410****

Fax: 202-628-8419****

twegner at alawash.org****

** **



-- 
*Diedre Conkling**
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR 97365
Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066
Work email**: **diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org*<diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org>
*
Home email: **diedre08 at gmail.com* <diedre08 at gmail.com>

 "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change
your attitude."--Maya Angelou
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20130205/15403af2/attachment.html>