Here are some library issues that are getting attention by our federal legislators right now. We are all part of this wonderful profession – it’s great to know what’s going on, and to be ready to share the message of “yay, libraries!” with stakeholders!
From ALA:
“There is a lot happening in D.C. right now. Here’s a brief update on a few of the issues that the Washington Office is working on, and information about how you can get involved!
#FundLibraries Update:
Today concludes our outreach to the House of Representatives around the #FundLibraries campaign. All “Dear Appropriator” letters for the FY 2019 budget have to be turned in to the House Appropriations Committee this afternoon. We had two letters circulating in support of federal library funding: one letter asking the House Appropriations Committee to fully fund the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), and the second asking the same for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program.
Despite having only a week and a half to gather support for these letters – last year we had two additional weeks! – we still gained 97 signatures for the IAL letter and 136 signatures for LSTA. We also received word that several offices have opted to send separate letters in support of these programs. Want to see if your representative signed? Check our appropriations letter tracker. Stay tuned – we are expecting similar letters to begin circulating in the Senate soon!
Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act:
After many years of hard work, we are one step closer to seeing the Marrakesh Treaty implemented in the United States. The Marrakesh Treaty is an international copyright treaty that was adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organization and signed by the U.S. in October 2013. It provides a copyright exception – the first ever in an international treaty – for libraries as authorized entities to make accessible copies of articles and books for people with print disabilities and distribute those copies across borders. If the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act is passed the United States will be able to provide a wealth of new accessible content to Americans with print disabilities, including those who speak English as a second language. In many ways, this is a civil rights law. It affirms that access to information is a universal right for all people regardless of circumstance.
If your Senator is part of the Senate Judiciary Committee or Senate Foreign Relations Committe, ask them to show their support for people with print disabilities by cosponsoring the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act (S. 2559). Want to learn more? Read about it here.
MSLA Reauthorization
The Museum and Library Services Act of 2017 (S. 2271) has been introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The 2017 MLSA reauthorizes the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), showing congressional support for the federal agency. IMLS administers funding through the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA), the only federal program that exclusively covers services and funding for libraries. The LSTA provides more than $183 million for libraries through the Grants to States program, the National Leadership Grants for Libraries, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, and Native American Library Services.
Please call your Senators and ask them to show their support of libraries by cosponsoring MLSA. For more information, check out the latest District Dispatch post or read about the history of MLSA.
Net Neutrality
This past December, the FCC voted to gut the net neutrality protections that limit the power of Internet Service Providers to slow websites, block mobile apps, or control the information we access. This 3-2 vote to roll back enforceable net neutrality protections was made amid widespread protests, millions of public comments and overwhelming opposition from across the political spectrum. Modern libraries rely on the internet to collect, create and disseminate essential online information and services to the public. Strong net neutrality rules are critical to keeping the internet working the way it does now.
The Congressional Review Act (CRA) gives Congress the ability and authority to nullify the FCC’s actions. With one more vote for the CRA, the Senate can move to restore net neutrality and protect the free and open internet. Call and email your members of Congress and ask them to use the CRA to overturn the FCC’s rulemaking.
FDLP Moderization Act of 2018
The bipartisan FDLP Modernization Act of 2018 (H.R. 5305) was introduced on March 15 following months of effort by the Committee on House Administration. The bill would modernize the Federal Depository Library Program and related programs that provide public access to government information. The FDLP Modernization Act was developed with input from the library community following a series of public hearings in the Committee on House Administration in 2017, which included testimony from librarians. ALA welcomes the legislation and sent a letter of support, along with the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), following the bill’s introduction. Prior to this process, it had been 20 years since Congress last held hearings or introduced legislation regarding the FDLP. You can learn more about the bill on District Dispatch.”