Sarasota County wants to hear from residents about the county budget. To obtain more involvement and consensus in the budget planning for next year, Sarasota County will hold a “virtual” Town Hall meeting before the county commissioners begin budget workshops in mid-June. The Town Hall will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 8. in the Sarasota County Access TV television studio.The discussion will be broadcast with a studio audience on Comcast 19 and Verizon 32. The session also will be streamed on this Web site.
Citizens can participate in the discussion and ask questions three ways:
e-mail: communityconnections@scgov.net
Phone: 941-861-2255 (Active on June 8)
Fax: 941-861-7354
“Changes in the economy and property values need to be balanced with community preferences for services,” said County Administrator Jim Ley. “With more information about public preferences and priorities as we prepare the fiscal year 2010 budget, the county commission can make better policy decisions with more community consensus.” For more information about the “virtual” Town Hall meeting, call the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 or visit the Community Connections Web site.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
National Library Legislative Days! May 11-12, 2009
National Library Legislative Days provide a unified opportunity for people from across the country to share with our U.S. Representatives and Senators the value of federal funds that benefit libraries. You can participate in person or virtually!
If you would like to participate virtually, contact your federal legislators by email, fax or phone. You can find your congressional representatives here: http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/
Check out the ALA Key Issues Checklist for topics of interest to you and your library!
Key Issues Checklist
National Library Legislative Day 2009
APPROPRIATIONS - FY 2010
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations
□ Fund the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) at $300 million.
□ Fund the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program at $100 million.
□ Sign the “Dear Colleague” letter being circulated in the Senate by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI)
and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) in support of funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program.
Legislative Branch Appropriations
□ Fund the Government Printing Office at their request of $166.307 million.
LIBRARY PROGRAMS & REAUTHORIZATIONS
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)
□ LSTA is up reauthorization this year, and this important piece of legislation should be reauthorized in a timely manner.
COPYRIGHT
The Fair Copyright in Research Works Act
□ The ALA strongly opposes H.R. 801 as it seeks to amend copyright law and reverse the National Institute of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy that provides access to taxpayer-funded NIH research on the Internet after a twelve-month embargo period.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND E-RATE ISSUES
E-rate Discounts
□ Congress should pass S. 348 and H.R. 2135 to provide a permanent exemption from the ADA for all Universal Service Fund programs by amending Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 so that USF funds “are not subject to certain provisions of… the Anti-Deficiency Act.”
□ Congress should urge the FCC to accept ALA’s proposal for simplification of the E-rate
application and disbursement processes. Maintain the E-rate and stabilize the USF program. E-rate discounts have provided public libraries with discounts totaling over $608,728,344 over the first 12 years of the program.
OPEN GOVERNMENT
Access to federally funded research reports
□ Congress should support S. Res. 118. Articles resulting from federally funded research should
be made available through a centralized electronic system, for purposes of access and retrieval by the public.
CONSUMER SAFETY
Consumer Product Safety Improvement
□ Congress should clarify CPSIA, specifying what was and was not intended to be included. While
we fully support protecting our children, the law as it stands has left many questions. Congress
should also urge the CPSC to respond to the ALA’s comments and give us needed guidance in
enough time to come into compliance with the law. Congress also should consider supporting
H.R.1692 to exempt ordinary books from CPSIA.
PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE
Reauthorization of Section 215
□ Congress should conduct a systematic analysis of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and related surveillance laws and make appropriate reforms to better balance civil liberties and national security. Three sections of the PATRIOT Act, including Section 215, the “business/library records provision,” due to be reauthorized by the end of this year, should be modified to protect readers’ privacy and prevent needless warrantless surveillance. Don’t forget to invite your Senators and Representatives to visit your library!
Thank you for taking the time to put together a message for your federal officials. Together we can ensure that libraries receive the funding needed to sustain and improve their valuable services to Florida's residents.
If you would like to participate virtually, contact your federal legislators by email, fax or phone. You can find your congressional representatives here: http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/
Check out the ALA Key Issues Checklist for topics of interest to you and your library!
Key Issues Checklist
National Library Legislative Day 2009
APPROPRIATIONS - FY 2010
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations
□ Fund the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) at $300 million.
□ Fund the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program at $100 million.
□ Sign the “Dear Colleague” letter being circulated in the Senate by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI)
and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) in support of funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program.
Legislative Branch Appropriations
□ Fund the Government Printing Office at their request of $166.307 million.
LIBRARY PROGRAMS & REAUTHORIZATIONS
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)
□ LSTA is up reauthorization this year, and this important piece of legislation should be reauthorized in a timely manner.
COPYRIGHT
The Fair Copyright in Research Works Act
□ The ALA strongly opposes H.R. 801 as it seeks to amend copyright law and reverse the National Institute of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy that provides access to taxpayer-funded NIH research on the Internet after a twelve-month embargo period.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND E-RATE ISSUES
E-rate Discounts
□ Congress should pass S. 348 and H.R. 2135 to provide a permanent exemption from the ADA for all Universal Service Fund programs by amending Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 so that USF funds “are not subject to certain provisions of… the Anti-Deficiency Act.”
□ Congress should urge the FCC to accept ALA’s proposal for simplification of the E-rate
application and disbursement processes. Maintain the E-rate and stabilize the USF program. E-rate discounts have provided public libraries with discounts totaling over $608,728,344 over the first 12 years of the program.
OPEN GOVERNMENT
Access to federally funded research reports
□ Congress should support S. Res. 118. Articles resulting from federally funded research should
be made available through a centralized electronic system, for purposes of access and retrieval by the public.
CONSUMER SAFETY
Consumer Product Safety Improvement
□ Congress should clarify CPSIA, specifying what was and was not intended to be included. While
we fully support protecting our children, the law as it stands has left many questions. Congress
should also urge the CPSC to respond to the ALA’s comments and give us needed guidance in
enough time to come into compliance with the law. Congress also should consider supporting
H.R.1692 to exempt ordinary books from CPSIA.
PRIVACY AND SURVEILLANCE
Reauthorization of Section 215
□ Congress should conduct a systematic analysis of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and related surveillance laws and make appropriate reforms to better balance civil liberties and national security. Three sections of the PATRIOT Act, including Section 215, the “business/library records provision,” due to be reauthorized by the end of this year, should be modified to protect readers’ privacy and prevent needless warrantless surveillance. Don’t forget to invite your Senators and Representatives to visit your library!
Thank you for taking the time to put together a message for your federal officials. Together we can ensure that libraries receive the funding needed to sustain and improve their valuable services to Florida's residents.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Florida Public Libraries & Privatization
The issue of privatization of libraries has been popping up frequently in Florida. Slightly dated, but useful information is available on the State of Florida website. Click on the link below to access "Florida Public Libraries & Privatization : a Guide for Florida Library Boards and Friends.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/publications/2001/house/reports/tourism/lib_pdfs/AppendF.pdf -
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/publications/2001/house/reports/tourism/lib_pdfs/AppendF.pdf -
Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who contacted legislators, either by phone or email and helped to restore State Aid to Public Libraries! You all did an AMAZING job. " Normal Floridians who had never called or e-mailed an official, stood up and roared!" All of you who made calls and sent emails made a significant difference. Your voices were heard!
Don't forget to take the time to thank those legislators you contacted for the work they did to make this happen!
Don't forget to take the time to thank those legislators you contacted for the work they did to make this happen!
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