As some of you may or may not know, the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) is currently having a bit of a funding crisis. If things go unchanged, the AVL budget will be down almost $500,000! One thing that we can do as librarians is make our voices heard. As you well know, the government responds well to many voices in unison. There are two bills going on right now in the House and the Senate. The House bill is HB385 (This has already been passed through the House and is now going through the Senate -- it had its second read yesterday). I apologize for not getting the exact number of the Senate bill (the House bill was stressed as the most important because it has already been passed once and is waiting on Senate approval). If one of these two bills does not get passed before the current session ends or get added onto the Special Session agenda, not only will the AVL get a greatly reduced budget, but the hundreds of hours of work will have to be started over. The best thing that we can do is to call our Representatives and tell them how important it is that these bills get passed. Urge your Senator to rush the Senate bill (or place it on the special consent calendar) and pass the House bill that is coming through the Senate. As of today (April 25) there are only 5(!!!) more days in the regular session. Time is running out and FAST. Please call today; opinions in numbers are the best way to get our representatives in Montgomery's attention!
Below is the link for you to find out your Legislator's phone number (and remember to leave a message with their secretary if you have to). The sponsor of HB385 is Mac Gipson.
Remember to say three things:
- Please support HB385 currently going through the Senate committees (and place it on the special consent calendar in the Senate so it can skip all the red tape)
- Please put The Alabama Virtual Library funding on the Special Session Agenda (especially HB385)
- Ask what other legislative action is needed for AVL funding to get passed
No comments:
Post a Comment