Call your Senators to Support Federal Library Funding

The Fight for Libraries! has moved to the United States Senate. On April 26th, two “Dear Appropriator” letters began circulating in the Senate, one seeking $186.6 million for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the other $27 million for the Innovative Approaches to Libraries (IAL) program for FY 2018. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are again championing funds for LSTA, while Senators Reed, Grassley (R-IA) and Stabenow (D-MI) are leading the fight for IAL.

Senators have until May 19 to let our champions know that they will sign the separate LSTA and IAL “Dear Appropriator” letters, so there’s no time to lose. Use ALA’s Legislative Action Center (http://ala.org/takeaction) today to contact both of your Senators.

Many Senators will only sign if their constituents ask them to. Let them know why libraries are important to your community and ask them directly to show their support.