Version 1 – Focus on the appropriation

Date

The Honorable XX

United States House of Representatives/ United States Senate

XXX

Washington, DC 20515 for House; 20510 for Senate

Dear Rep/Sen. XX:

We write to urge your support of $186.6 million for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the fiscal year 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.

Residents in INSERT COUNTY rely on libraries for free access to essential information on a wide range of topics, skills training, computers and the Internet. Nearly one in six Hoosiers lives in an area without broadband service. INSERT IF THIS IS AN ISSUE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. Many more Hoosiers cannot afford it even where it is available. Internet access is critical at a time when applications for many job applications and government services must be completed online. Indiana’s libraries provide access to digital resources, as well as print resources and trained staff.

In 2016, LSTA grants provided $2,799,077 to 11 statewide, Indiana-specific projects and sub-grants in every congressional district. Our NAME LIBRARY in NAME COMMUNITY benefited from these projects. Allow us to explain how our community benefited:

  • Cost-effective resource sharing – LSTA funds provide support to INSPIRE, the state’s virtual library; Evergreen, a shared inter-library loan system; and Statewide Circulation Remote Services. DESCRIBE A SPECIFIC BENEFIT OF INSPIRE OR EVERGREEN IN YOUR LIBRARY
  • Access for people with disabilities and the homebound – LSTA grants supports statewide services to the blind, physically impaired, including talking books and Braille. DESCRIBE SPECIFIC BENEFIT.
  • Early Childhood Literacy – LSTA supports storytime kits, summer reading, early literacy computers and other programming for children and teens. SHARE GREAT STORY FROM YOUR STORYTIME OR SUMMER READING
  • Technology – LSTA grants support competitive subgrants for innovations in local communities. IF YOUR LIBRARY RECEIVED, PLEASE DESCRIBE.
  • Digitization – LSTA funds continue digitization of Indiana’s historical records and cultural heritage, which are made available via the internet to all. DESCRIBE THE IMPORTANCE

We invite you to visit our library when you are home to see the critical role libraries play in education, employment and quality of life. INSERT PROGAM THIS SUMMER DATE/TIME

The Library Services and Technology Act is the only federal program that helps public libraries meet community needs, provide enhanced services through technology, reach underserved populations, and retain librarians while recruiting new entrants to this important field.

On behalf of our NUMBER of RESIDENTS or CARDHOLDERS, we urge you to provide $186.6 million this year, and no less than current funding for the LSTA grants to states program. With this funding level, we can help ensure that our INSERT COMMUNITY NAME’s neighbors have access to libraries, Internet, and information services; the resources they need to develop literacy skills and achieve academically; and the services and tools to search for, find, and create jobs.

Thank you for your continued support of Indiana’s libraries.

Sincerely,

Version 2 – Value federal library funding and broadband, e-rate programs

Date

The Honorable XX

United States House of Representatives/ United States Senate

XXX

Washington, DC 20515 for House; 20510 for Senate

Dear Rep/Sen. XX:

As you are making important budgetary and policy decisions, we write to urge your support of continued federal funding and broadband policies in support of libraries.

The ## residents of INSERT COUNTY are able to access information, the internet, e-government services and so much more through our library. Without federal funding, our residents would not have access to the inter-library loan and circulation. Without federal funding, residents who are blind and visually impaired would not have access to the Talking Books and Braille services. Without federal funding, our youngest residents and their parents would not have access to certain early literacy programs. Please support continued federal funding through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Additionally, our local residents rely on our library for free access to skills training, computers and the Internet. Nearly one in six Hoosiers lives in an area without broadband service. DESCRIBE HOW THIS IS AN ISSUE IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR TELL A STORY ABOUT HOW BUSY YOUR COMPUTERS ARE. Many more Hoosiers cannot afford it even where it is available. Internet access is critical at a time when applications for many job applications and government services must be completed online.

As you consider infrastructure needs, we hope you prioritize the expansion of high-speed broadband. We ask that you support the FCC’s E-rate program, as our library is able to provide internet access to residents through this program. DESCRIBE HOW

We invite you to visit our library when you are home to see the critical role libraries play in education, employment and quality of life.

On behalf of our NUMBER of RESIDENTS or CARDHOLDERS, we urge you to continue funding through the Library Services and Technology Act and to continue supporting the federal E-rate program which helps libraries approach meeting the demand for high-speed internet.

With this funding level, we can help ensure that our INSERT COMMUNITY NAME’s neighbors have access to libraries, Internet, and information services; the resources they need to develop literacy skills and achieve academically; and the services and tools to search for, find, and create jobs.

Thank you for your continued support of Indiana’s libraries.

Sincerely,