School Library Collection Development Grant

 "...to expand and improve the library collection to include relevant and current reading materials."

This could be a dream come true!

11/8/07 update

The Alaska Association of School Librarians believes

Every Alaskan child deserves access to current information.

We ask you to tell your legislators of your support for

Senate Bill 119

This bill proposes to raise the achievement of Alaskan students by increasing access to new and varied library materials with a $2,500 annual grant to eligible Alaskan school libraries.   The Alaska Association of School Librarians (AkASL) is working on a legislative initiative to create a school library collection grant which would parallel the on-going state-supported public library collection development grant.

This grant will enable school libraries to replace materials such as almanacs with statistics years out of date, encyclopedias with incomplete or inaccurate entries, atlases with incorrect political boundaries, health books with outdated or misleading information, nonfiction books too old to include advances in science and technology, folklore or picture books which are culturally insensitive, sports books featuring teams which no longer exist and the many wonderful library books which are literally falling apart from many years of use.

Last session Senator Ralph Samuals directed his staff to work on a draft which was then sent to the legislative legal department and registered as SB 119.  Senator Donny Olson became the Primary Sponsor, and the bill passed the Senate HES Committee in April of 2007.  The next step is passage through the Senate Finance Committee. 

Did you know?

• School library budgets vary widely with some libraries having a zero budget year after year.
• Many students and community members do not have easy access to a public library.  They rely on their school libraries for all information needs such as completing school projects, doing research, and finding  interesting books to read.
• SB 119 is a long-term investment in Alaskan school infrastructure and the education of our future Alaskan citizens.

Alaska’s students need parents, educators, school board members

plus all those interested in literacy and student achievement

working together to voice their support for this important bill.

Please, tell your legislator to pass SB 119 this session.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Public School Library Grant”: (SB 119) Introduced In Senate!

Wednesday, March 14th. The “Public School Library Collection Grant” was introduced in the Senate as “An Act establishing a grant program to support public school libraries”. The bill was presented by one of AkASL’ primary sponsors: Democratic Senator, Donny Olson from Nome.

See the SB 119 bill history page to follow progress of the bill, and original bill language.

Help Promote! Contact your local legislators AND members of committees reviewing the bill to show your support. As of March 16 the bill has been referred to the Senate House, Education and Social Services Committee. See list of current committees and members. State Legislature page with list of all contacts.

See Talking Points for ways that you can help promote this legislation. Original Grant Proposal

Send a Public Opinion Message (POM) to show your support for the grant. Follow the directions on the form to mail or FAX your POM.

POM tips:

• Keep it short
• State your opinion on the topic clearly
• Give a few short supporting details
• Incorporate student achievement and reading
• Spread the word! Ask teachers, administrators and parents to send POMs too.
• See sample POM

Questions? Contact AkASL Past President; Barb Bryson and AkASL Area Rep. Lynn McNamara for more details..

Please leave questions or comments about the grant here:

• Thanks to the grant writers for getting this off the ground! Robin Turk

*The links to the Grant and the talking points did not work for me. Sue S. 2/06

• The "Work Draft" is in the final editing stages! Yae! When we get the thumbs up that the Work Draft is finished, I'll send the AkASL Board the bill number and name. Lynn and I are writing up a "Sponsor Statement" that will be used to present the bill at the 1st hearing. Barb B. 2/28/07

• The School Library Grant, bill # 119 , went to the Senate today! It's title is: "An Act establishing a grant program to support ppublic school libraries." AkASL primary sponsor, Senator Don Olson from Nome, presented the bill.  Clark Gruening, our AkASL lobbiest, hopes to have a House Bill ready  to present by next week!  Time to start supporting this bill by contacting your area legislators, district administrators and community members.  Explain to them why an annual grant of this nature would benefit your library.  Barb Bryson 3/14/07