The American Library Association has sent out the following announcement.

The President signed HR 13, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 into law. The legislation sets the authorization level for library programs at $232 million. If funding is achieved at that level, the new formula distribution would take place and the base amount given to each state would double. Since the formula was first set in 1971, this change would help small states, while holding harmless large states. The legislation reauthorizes the Museum and Library Services Act until 2009.

As you know, Congress is still engaged in finishing the appropriations bills or funding for programs for FY2004. Now that we have a new piece of legislation, we would like to thank the Members of House and Senate for passing the legislation, but also point out to them the need for funding the law at the proposed level of $232 million for library programs. Unless all Members of Congress hear from library supporters in large emphatic numbers, libraries will get less funding than that in FY2003. We urge all of you to participate in this effort.

We have put together sample letters for each state with exactly what the amount would be for state library programs if appropriators fund the Museum and Library Services Act at the stipulated levels. The letter is included here at text at the bottom of the message and as a Word attachment.

Please insert information on how these funds benefit residents of Texas and what the state critical information needs are. We hope you can use this material to thank legislators for their work and urge them to ask appropriators for the full amount of funding for library programs.

We expect appropriators from House and Senate to be working on the remaining appropriations bills during the month of October. The appropriations bills for FY2004 for Labor, Health and Human Services and Education contain the funding for library programs under the Institute for Museum and Library Services. The bill numbers are H.R. 2660 for the House bill and S. 1356 for the Senate. We will update you on the progress of the conference on the two bills, which has yet to occur.

To find out who represents you and how to contact them, go to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/address.htm.

Dear Member of Congress: H.R. 13, the reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act that includes the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), has passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support. The legislation would set funding for state library program grants at a level of $232 million, and would reauthorize the law until 2009. We in the library community thank you for your assistance in making this happen. However, neither the Senate version of the FY2004 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill nor that of the House is funded at a level high enough to reach the newly approved state formula allocations. We ask your help in achieving the authorization level of $232 million for library programs. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that Texas had 55,280,000 library visits in 2001. The average cost of one hard cover book is $28.84. A children's book costs on average $18.00. Across the country, library budgets are suffering some of the worst cuts in history. Just when communities need libraries most, many libraries are being forced to reduce hours, slash purchasing, cut staff, and even close their doors. It is extremely important to us that the federal dollars for library programs increase to help libraries meet critical community needs. Please contact the Appropriators and ask them to fully fund LSTA at the authorized level of $232 million. This would give Texas $12,011,382 in FY2004. This figure is a significant increase over the current level.                                                                                                         Sincerely,