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<p class="MsoNormal">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
<i>CQ:<u></u><u></u></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">“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<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt">Find the website at:
<a href="http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/index.cfm/mybudget" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/index.cfm/mybudget</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt">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:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">Public Libraries</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">84% of Americans 16 or older have been to a library or bookmobile. In the last year, 59% of Americans used library services.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">Throughout the economic downturn, patrons have increasingly turned to the local library for information on a wide range of subjects, including job searching.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">In one year, 30 million Americans used library connections to search and apply for jobs.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">Over 92% of libraries provide access to job databases and online job applications.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">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.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">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.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">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.<u></u><u></u></span></li>
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">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.<u></u><u></u></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">School Libraries</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">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.<u></u><u></u></span></li><li class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-size:12pt">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. <u></u><u></u></span></li>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ted Wegner<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Grassroots Coordinator<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">American Library Association<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Washington Office-Office of Government Relations<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1615 New Hampshire Avenue N.W., 1st Floor<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Washington, DC 20009-2520<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Phone: <a href="tel:202-628-8410" target="_blank" value="+12026288410">202-628-8410</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fax: <a href="tel:202-628-8419" target="_blank" value="+12026288419">202-628-8419</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:twegner@alawash.org" target="_blank">twegner@alawash.org</a><u></u><u></u></p>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div><em><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt">Diedre Conkling</span></em><i><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt"><br><em><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Lincoln County Library District</span></em><br>
<em><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">P.O. Box 2027</span></em><br><em><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Newport, OR 97365</span></em><br><em><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066</span></em><br>
<em><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Work email</span></em></span></i><em><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt;font-style:normal">: </span></em><a href="mailto:diedre@lincolncolibrarydist.org" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt"><font color="#0000ff">diedre@lincolncolibrarydist.org</font></span></i></a><i><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt"><br>
<em><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Home email: </span></em></span></i><a href="mailto:diedre08@gmail.com" target="_blank"><em><span style="color:blue;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt">diedre08@gmail.com</span></em></a></div>
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<h6>
<span>“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”―Maya Angelou</span><span></span></h6><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt"></span></div>