FY 2009 Omnibus increases funding for libraries
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Contact: Jenni Terry
ALA Washington Office
(202) 628-8410
NEWS
For Immediate Release
March 17, 2009
Bill contains increase to Grants to State Library Agencies program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) says the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which recently passed the Senate and was signed into law by President Obama, is a victory for libraries.
The $410 billion spending bill, which includes the nine unfinished appropriations bills from last year, contains $171.5 million for the Grants to State Library Agencies program within the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). This funding level is an increase of more than  $10 million from last year and also allows for full implementation of a 2003 law to provide a more equitable distribution of state formula grants.
ALA President Jim Rettig said this additional state funding will provide much-needed assistance to our nation’s libraries, which  are experiencing a spike in usage during the recession.
“Last year, libraries hosted more than 1.3 billion visits and are now averaging 175 million visits a month,” Rettig said.Â
“As Americans deal with the weakened economy, they are turning to their libraries more and more – not just for no-fee access to the Internet and free books, CDs and DVDs – but also for assistance with online job searching, resume building, 21st century job skills training and e-government. We want to thank Congress and the White House for recognizing the need to fund libraries at the full level of the LSTA, especially during this time when Americans need their libraries more than ever.”
Rettig credited many members of Congress with working to ensure this funding was secured, especially thanking U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, whose leadership was essential to reaching this funding level.
“Libraries have always been a place where the community can come together, a source of common ground,” Reed said.“Today, more and more job seekers are turning to libraries for assistance in their search.I have long advocated for this funding level, because it is the amount necessary to reach a key goal included in the 2003 reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act that I authored to double the minimum State allotment. This additional funding will help libraries respond to the growing demand for free access to all types of services and new technology.”
The spending bill also included $607 million for the Library of Congress, which includes $29 million to complete the transition of the Digital Talking Books program for the blind.
For more information on how libraries are helping Americans during the recession, go to
www.ala.org/economynews.
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