It's time to take action - it's time to #FundLibraries! With the release of the President's proposed budget, Congress has begun the process of building next year's federal budget. Library advocates have the opportunity to remind their members of Congress why library funding is nonnegotiable. From early literacy programs to workforce skills trainings, from stable internet access to tool libraries, libraries rely on robust federal funding to provide vital services to their communities - Congress must support our nation's communities by supporting our nation's libraries. Learn more about the campaign, take action, and spread the word with our tools and resources below!
Take Action to #FundLibraries
Did Your Members of Congress Sign On? Fact Sheets & Resources Share the Campaign
Each year, ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office works with congressional staff to produce and circulate "Dear Appropriator" letters in Congress, addressed to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The circulation of these letters marks the first and most influential nationwide advocacy action on the federal budget in any given year. As library advocates, we ask Congress to sign these letters and support federal funding for libraries. In 2023 (FY2024), the letters for the Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) are led by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-3) and Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2) in the House, and Sen. Jack Reed (RI) in the Senate. The letters for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Act (IAL) are led by Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-2) and Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2) in the House and Sen. Jack Reed (RI) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI) in the Senate. ALA is requesting funding totals of $232 million for LSTA and $50 million for IAL.
Congressional Signature History
Have your Senators signed on to support library funding for FY24?
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Check below to see if your Senators signed the LSTA and IAL letters.
Has your Representative signed on in support of library funding for FY24?
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Check below to see if your Representative signed the LSTA and IAL letters.
Appropriations Fact Sheets & Resources
Download a handy one-pager of your state's IMLS funding history and library facts. Need more specific examples? Check out the full IMLS grant database!
Download our Appropriations pathway for advocates to learn more about how the Appropriations process works
Invite members of Congress to visit your library. Check out these tips for organizing a virtual or in-person visit, and download this one-page introduction to Federal funding to share with them on the visit.
Share the Campaign - Share Your Story!
Spread the word about #FundLibraries on social media and share the impact of IMLS funding in your library or state. You can use our sample posts, and remember to tag your story with #FundLibraries.
Download all of our Fund Libraries graphics here.
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Tell your story. Write a letter to the editor or share your story with the ALA advocacy team; we will hand-deliver it to your member of Congress.
Past "Dear Appropriator" Letters
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- Federal Library Funding Chart - FY17-23
- FY23 Senate Letter on LSTA - April 2022
- FY23 Senate Letter on IAL - April 2022
- FY23 House Letter on LSTA - April 2022
- FY23 House Letter on IAL - April 2022
- FY22 Senate Letter on LSTA - July 8, 2021
- FY22 Senate Letter on IAL - July 8, 2021
- FY22 House Letter on LSTA - April 28, 2021
- FY22 House Letter on IAL - April 28, 2021
- FY21 Senate Letter on LSTA - March 27, 2020
- FY21 Senate Letter on IAL - March 27, 2020
- FY21 House Letter on LSTA - March 13, 2020
- FY21 House Letter on IAL - March 13, 2020
- FY20 Senate Letter on LSTA - April 15, 2019
- FY20 Senate Letter on IAL - April 15, 2019
- FY20 House Letter on LSTA - March 28, 2019
- FY20 House Letter on IAL - March 28, 2019
- FY19 Senate LSTA Letter - April 13, 2018
- FY19 Senate IAL Letter - April 13, 2018
- FY19 House LSTA Letter - March 19, 2018
- FY19 House IAL Letter - March 19, 2018
- FY18 Senate LSTA Letter - May 25, 2017
- FY18 Senate IAL Letter - May 25, 2017
- FY18 House LSTA Letter - April 6, 2017
- FY18 House IAL Letter - April 6, 2017
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