LEGISLATIVE ALERT

I'm sure that many of you have seen the latest Email from Paul Nelson, the WLA Library Development & Legislation Chair (LD&L). But in case you haven't, I'm going to repeat it here.

"Here's a heads-up about an important legislative alert coming your way next week.

As you may already know, the legislature's Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will hold six hearings about SB-40, the Executive Budget Bill, beginning March 20th. WLA will need you to communicate with JFC members about your support for the library-related funding measures in this bill. Please make some time in your schedule next week to complete this call to action. Both the dates & locations of the hearings and the contact info of JFC members are available online . http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/jfc.html

In the meantime, please take a look at WLA's Legislative Status Report. http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/legis/BudgetStatusReport.htm which summarizes these key issues, public library system aids, BadgerLink, statewide service contracts, school library aids re-estimate (Common School Fund), Newsline for the Blind .

Our success depends upon a strong response to next week's alert."

Remember guys, that 2007 is going to be the year that Trustees and Friends join library professionals in the effort to keep our legislators aware of the importance of key pieces of legislation affecting libraries and our great State.