ALA to testify in support of library funding at U.S. House LHHS hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Washington Office, will advocate for federal library funding at an appropriations hearing before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. The hearing will take place on April 29, 2015, from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, room 2358C.

During the congressional hearing, leaders and witnesses will discuss a variety of budgetary issues related to the 2016 fiscal year Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill, including library and education funding. Sheketoff will advocate for the House Subcommittee to include $186.6 million for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) under the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and $25 million for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program under the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

“We are proud to have Emily Sheketoff advocate on behalf of the library community at the U.S. House hearing,” said ALA President Courtney Young. “American libraries depend on federal funding sources to ensure that their patrons have equal access to 21st century resources, tools and services.”

Sheketoff has served as the executive director of the ALA Washington Office since 1999. She currently oversees both the ALA Office of Government Relations (OGR) and the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP). Sheketoff’s testimony will be available at the hearing and by contacting Jazzy Wright, press officer of the ALA Washington Office, at jwright@alawash.org.

Library advocates will soon join Sheketoff in advocating for federal library funding. Next week, library advocates will advocate for library funding with their members of Congress during the American Library Association’s 41st annual National Library Legislative Day, which takes place from May 4–5, 2015, in Washington, D.C. Learn more about Virtual National Library Legislative Day.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with approximately 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.