Behind-the-scenes meetings continue this week between legislative leaders and Governor Corbett as they work toward a final budget before the June 30 deadline. Email messages to your Senator and to the Governor can still make a big difference.We can achieve progress but only if you join with hundreds of other library advocates all across the state who have decided to Take Action.
Just as a reminder, the budget that passed the House now being considered in the Senate:
·increases Library Access/POWER Library by $500,000 (+ 17.7%) and the State Library by $29,000 (+1.5%), and,
·level-funds the Public Library Subsidy ($53.5 million) and Library Services for the Visually impaired and Disabled ($2.5 million.)
We recognize that these increases will not solve all library service and funding challenges overnight. But on the plus side, these funding increases would represent genuine progress in a year greatly complicated by weak economic recovery and big-ticket budget items such as pension reform, transportation funding, and liquor privatization.
Since the House-passed budget bill included some increases, there is real reason for hope in the Senate. But we dare not take anything for granted. Click Here to send an email message to your State Senator and to Governor Corbett.
Please spread this word as widely as possible and please don’t delay. We’re in the mix and the goal is close at hand.
Thank you for your membership and great support of PaLA’s advocacy goals. Most of all, thanks for Taking Action to improve library services!
Glenn
Glenn R. Miller
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Library Association
220 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 10
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055
