One of our library trustees, Morgane Plager
Roth, has returned from Washington, D.C. having joined the “Voices for
Libraries” Washington State Delegation as a rural library advocate. The
delegation also included Sara Jones, State Librarian; Jeanne Williams, State
Public & Tribal Library Consultant; Brianna Hoffman, State Training
Coordinator; Kate Laughlin, Executive Director of the Association for Small
& Rural Libraries; John Sheller and Chase Gallagher, King County Libraries;
and Rick Sheridan, Seattle Public Library.
The group joined delegations from 37 states
for an educational day at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in downtown D.C.
on Wednesday, March 5th. The next day the group met with the offices of
Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and with the offices of
Representatives Michael Baumgartner, Suzan Delbene, Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez,
Pramila Jayapal, Emily Randall, Kim Schrier, and Marilyn Strickland.
The delegations were specifically advocating
for the full funding of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The
LSTA falls under the Museum and Library Services Act that was last authorized
in 2018 and is the only act that specifically targets federal funds to
libraries. The funds from the LSTA are distributed to every state, territory,
and Washington, D.C. In Washington, those funds help fund jobs and services at
the state library and are distributed to all of our 39 counties. In a rural
library system, like ours, that translates to having the Washington Digital
Library Consortium allowing us to offer digital and audiobook checkouts in
LIBBY, the Adams County Community Archive in the Washington Rural Heritage
Program, training for our staff and trustees, access to broadband and E-rates,
the Washington Humanities speakers bureau, the historical newspaper project,
amongst others.
Washington State also provides funding for 22
tribal libraries and is the only state that maintains 9 libraries in our
correctional facilities and our state hospitals, allowing inmates and residents
access to a wide variety of quality materials.
Morgane was deeply honored to be asked to join
the delegation and was proud to be a voice for our Washington rural libraries.
She said that, “The most striking takeaway from the meetings was how interested
our representatives are in learning how this funding directly impacts our
citizens and community groups.”
“Voices for Libraries” was sponsored by the
Chief Officers of State Library Agencies and the Association for Rural &
Small Libraries.
The delegation meets with Senator Patty
Murray’s aides.
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