ALA President urges passage of Digital Learning Equity Act

Libraries provide online tools kids need to succeed

Washington, D.C. – Sari Feldman, president of the American Library Association (ALA), today called for swift passage of The Digital Learning Equity Act of 2015 (H.R. 3582). Emphasizing the urgency of addressing the growing digital divide that separates students with and without access to the Internet at home, she said:

“We applaud Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT) and David McKinley (R-WV) for  introducing  H.R. 3582, which will broaden access to the Internet for millions of students whose performance suffers from  a widening ‘homework gap’  between students who have access to the Internet at home and those who do not.

ALA appreciates that the legislation recognizes and leverages the substantial and important role libraries play in facilitating access to the Internet and digital resources for millions of students.  As public and school libraries continue to transform for the 21st Century -- providing on-line tools, research and guidance for students that complements and enhances education, libraries can and will play a pivotal role in addressing this equity gap.  The Digital Learning Equity Act will accelerate and broaden individual opportunity for students, which is critical to future progress in our nation.

H.R. 3582 builds on the Senate introduction last June of S. 1606, authored by Senator Angus King (I-ME), which is now before the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.  Students in every classroom and every corner of the nation need Congress to close the homework gap. ALA urges Congress to quickly pass and send the Digital Learning Equity Act to the President.”

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 55,000 members in academic, public, school, government, and special libraries. The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.