On February 24th the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives unveiled their budgets. There are significant differences between the two pertaining to Washington State Library funding. The Senate budget makes deep cuts (minus $1.470 million), while the House budget cuts funding by $428,000.
The Senate budget reduces WSL's ability to maintain the level of federal LSTA funding which assists libraries of all types throughout the state.
The House budget allows WSL to keep the federal funding, though it contains a proviso that reduces flexibility.
We are asking everyone to immediately e-mail or call their Senate and House members, asking them to adopt the House budget, without the proviso, for the Washington State Library. This is especially important if the member is on the Ways and Means Committee. Find members of the Ways and Means Committee.
Sample e-mails for the Senate and House may be found below. Please rewrite to reflect your community and library.
Time is of the essence! Please send your messages today!
Sample e-mail to Washington State Senators
Dear Senator _______
I have just been informed that the Senate version of the budget that you will soon be voting on contains a devastating cut to the Washington State Library.
I am writing to urge you to not make this cut and to support the level of funding contained in the House budget for the Washington State Library, minus the proviso.
Not only is the Senate 1.4 million dollar cut going to affect the State Library's ability to receive federal funds, but also the Senate 1.5 million dollar proviso directing local library funds to be used only for correctional library facilities will affect services I receive at my local library.
My local library accesses databases supplied by the Washington State Library. The combination of this cut and the proviso will dramatically affect my libraries' ability to use these resources.
Please work to restore adequate funding for the Washington State Library.
Thank you.
Sample e-mail to Washington State House of Representatives
Dear Representative _______
I am writing to thank you for the inclusion of funds that were needed to keep the Washington State Library functioning as a resource to all the local libraries across the state.
I realize there are many challenges facing you as you develop and finalize our state's budget and wanted you to know I sincerely appreciate your advocacy on behalf of your state's libraries.
Thank you very much for your support.