Speaking up for learning, literacy, and

libraries!

It’s time elected officials realized that libraries are important to the success of our state and MUST BE SUPPORTED BY OUR STATE!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mychickadee/5623123500/

Texans care about libraries!Texans care about libraries!

A Texas voter survey found that A Texas voter survey found that •9 out of 10 Texas believe libraries are important to their 9 out of 10 Texas believe libraries are important to their communities and deserve more funding!communities and deserve more funding!

•An overwhelming majority of Texas voters believe that school An overwhelming majority of Texas voters believe that school libraries are a vital part of the educational process.libraries are a vital part of the educational process.

Texas libraries provide Texas libraries provide ALLALL Texans with tools for Texans with tools for

education, innovation, and education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.entrepreneurship.

$30,000,000$30,000,000

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68751915@N05/6355318323

$-

$2,000,000

$4,000,000

$6,000,000

$8,000,000

$10,000,000

$12,000,000

$14,000,000

$16,000,000

2010-11 2012-13

Texshare

K-12Databases

Lone StarLibraries

OtherStatewideLibraryPrograms

From over $30 million in 2010-11 to $2.5 million for 2012-13!

What did Texans lose?

Homework help Research

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uonottingham/4821577785/

Career & Test Preparation

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hcplebranch/6299442459/

Job searching

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsl-libdev/5669801577

College preparation

http://www.flickr.com/photos/librariesrock/7145386745/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/asheborolibrary/492908123/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cushinglibrary/4790459914/

State funding for e-content State funding for e-content in in academicacademic andand publicpublic

librarieslibraries was greatly was greatly reducedreduced. .

Currently, there is Currently, there is NONO statewide funding for school statewide funding for school library eContent for library eContent for public public

school studentsschool students..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrcrash/278991638 http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrcrash/278991638

We must let our legislators We must let our legislators know the know the valuevalue of libraries of libraries

and their contribution to the and their contribution to the successsuccess of our schools and of our schools and

communities.communities.

2014-15 Budget Request

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission

http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelinglibrarian/5124568206/

E-content learning E-content learning resourcesresources

$9.25 $9.25 million/bienniummillion/biennium

Grants to increase Grants to increase literacy and literacy and

educational success educational success

$3.4 million/biennium$3.4 million/biennium

What Can YOU Do?

Let your elected officials Let your elected officials know how important the know how important the library is to you, your library is to you, your children, school and children, school and community.community.

Educate your elected Educate your elected representativesrepresentatives

Call or write them with Call or write them with your concerns.your concerns.

Invite them to the libraryInvite them to the libraryRecruit others to do the Recruit others to do the

samesameAsk your local school Ask your local school

board, city council, or board, city council, or commissioners court to commissioners court to pass a resolution pass a resolution advocating for library advocating for library funding and supportfunding and support

Educate your CommunityEducate your Community

http://www.txla.org/advocate