House Subcommittee Holds Hearing
on LSTA Reauthorization
The House Subcommittee on Select Education held a hearing February 14 on reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act, which includes the Library Services and Technology Act, set to expire at the end of this year.
Institute of Museum and Library Services Director Robert Martin testified on behalf of the agency. Appearing on behalf of libraries were Linda Yoder, director of the Nappanee (Ind.) Public Library, and Lucille Thomas, vice chair of the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library board of trustees. Steven Hamp, president of the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, represented museums.
Yoder told the subcommittee about an LSTA technology grant that “allowed a consortium of 10 small libraries in northern Indiana to hire technical assistance, sharing the same service provider among the participating libraries.” Without the grant, said Yoder, her library might still be years away from using technology.
Thomas testified about an LSTA-funded consumer health information training program attended by over 600 seniors at BPL. Describing the library’s summer reading program, she said, “for most children in Brooklyn, there is no summer camp—it’s the library.” Thomas also explained how the library had helped parents and children in the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster.
Both library witnesses requested a speedy reauthorization with a funding level of $500 million. The Bush administration’s fiscal year 2003 budget includes $181.7 million for the IMLS Office of Library Services.
Posted February 25, 2002.
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