TLA TEXLINE NO. 214
Posted: January 23, 2007
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NETWORK

In this issue:

I. CALL TO ACTION--TSLAC Senate Budget Hearing Set
II. TLA Legislative Day Approaches

I. CALL TO ACTION--TSLAC Senate Budget Hearing Set
The Senate Finance Committee hearing on the State Library budget will take place on Wednesday, January 31 at 8 am in E1.036.  This hearing will be the only time the Senate Finance Committee will take public testimony on the agency budget.

CALL TO ACTON: All library supporters are urged to contact their senator if he or she serves on the Finance Committee (see roster below). Tell your senator to 1) support funding the exceptional item request for Loan Star Libraries (in the amount of $11.63 million per year) and 2) appropriate additional funds of $3 million per year for statewide database access (which will cover the costs for all K-12 campuses and strengthen TexShare).

TALKING POINTS—Direct Aid to Public Libraries (Loan Star Libraries)

  • Through Loan Star Libraries, a direct aid program for public libraries, 534 public libraries received grants totaling $2.65 million in FY 2006. The exceptional items request for Loan Star Libraries would bring the total grant funds to $12.75 million each year of the biennium and would restore approximately $1.3 million to the base budget of this program.

  • More than ever, the people of Texas need improved learning resources and opportunities. According to the National Institute for Literacy, over one half of the adult population in Texas has low literacy levels and a full quarter operates at the lowest level of literacy. 

  • According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Texas spends only about 14 cents per capita for public library support. This funding would raise per capita support to about 50 cents.

TALKING POINTS—Statewide Database Access

  • Online library databases provide hundreds of electronic full text journals, magazines, and newspapers and offer a one-stop shop for online research. Administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), TexShare databases place the most current reference materials and quality subscription resources at the desktop of every public library user and student in higher education.

  • However, K-12 students, who had similar access to such materials through a separate Texas Education Agency (TEA) program (which was eliminated in 2003), no longer have statewide access.

  • As Texas looks to increase the use of technology in learning environments, provide equity in learning, and promote efficiency in funding higher education, an investment in quality, digital educational resources for all Texans will deliver a stronger statewide learning infrastructure.

Committee Members:

Sen. Steve Ogden, Chair; steve.ogden@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0105; Fax: 512-463-5713

Sen. Judith Zaffirini, Vice-Chair; judith.zaffirini@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0121; Fax: 512-475-3738

Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-1); kevin.eltife@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0101; Fax: 512-475-3751

Sen. Troy Fraser (R-24) troy.fraser@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0124; Fax: 512-475-3732

Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D-20) juan.hinojosa@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0120; Fax: 512-463-0229

Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-27) eddie.lucio@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0127 / 1-800-394-0127; Fax: 512-463-0061

Sen. Kip Averitt (R-22); kip.averitt@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0122; Fax: 512-475-3729

Sen. Bob Deuell (R-2); bob.deuell@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0102; Fax: 512-463-7202

Sen. Robert Duncan (R-28); robert.duncan@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0128; Fax: 512-463-2424

Sen. Kyle Janek (R-17); kyle.janek@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0117; Fax: 512-463-0639

Sen. Jane Nelson (R-12); jane.nelson@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0112; Fax: 512-463- Fax: 0923

Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-8); florence.shapiro@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0108; Fax: 512-463-7579

Sen. Royce West (D-23); royce.west@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0123; Fax: 512-463-0299

Sen. John Whitmire (D-15); john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0115; Fax: 512-475-3737

Sen. Thomas Williams (R-4); thomas.williams@senate.state.tx.us;
Phone: 512-463-0104; Fax: 512-463-6373

II. TLA Legislative Day Approaches
TLA’s Legislative Day will take place on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 in Austin.  Legislative Day is a critical time for library supporters to visit with elected officials to inform them of library initiatives and to ask for their support.

There is no registration fee and all onsite logistics will be arranged by TLA.  All delegates will receive training on issues on Monday, February 5 at 7 pm or have the option of an abbreviated overview on Tuesday morning at 8 am. Legislative Day will end with a special reception at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, which will once again exhibit some of the state’s most prized archival documents, including the Travis letter from the Alamo and the Texas Declaration of Independence of 1836.  To register, go to http://www.txla.org/html/legis/legday.html.

TLA-Texline is an irregular publication of the Texas Library Association mailed directly to members interested in legislative and governmental issues affecting libraries. To subscribe -- or to offer comments or suggestions -- contact Gloria Meraz, Director of Communications, Texas Library Association. Previous issues of Texline are archived on the TLA website.