Supporting One of Our Nation's Most Important Resources
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Support Library Funding
Support Library Funding
Your library is so many things to you: an oasis, a source of entertainment and information, even a gathering place. It serves your community in countless ways, often with limited resources. If you've ever wondered what you could do to help your library succeed, take a look at the options outlined in our "Take Action" section.
The amount of funding that a library receives directly influences
the quality of its services. While the majority of funding for
libraries comes from state and local sources, federal funding provides
critical assistance, giving libraries across the country the financial
support they need to serve their communities.
The majority of federal library program funds are distributed through
the Institute of Museum and Library Services to each state. The Library
Services and Technology Act (LSTA) is part of the annual Labor, Health
and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. Another important
source of federal funding for libraries is the Improving Literacy
Through School Libraries (ILSL) program, which is administered by the
Department of Education, and is the first program specifically aimed at
upgrading school libraries since the original school library resources
program was established in 1965.
Around the country libraries are using LSTA funding, the only
federal program solely devoted to aiding libraries, to help patrons
access essential information on a wide range of topics. They provide
training on resume development; help on web searches of job banks;
workshops on career information; links to essential educational and
community services; assistive devices for people with disabilities;
family literacy classes; English classes; homework help and mentoring
programs; information on religions and other cultures; access to
e-government; a forum for enhanced civic engagement, and so much more.
ILSL funding is designed to improve student literacy skills and
academic achievement by providing schools with up-to-date library
materials and to ensure that school library media centers are staffed
by well-trained and professionally certified school media specialists.
Numerous studies show there is a clear link between the quality of
library media programs in schools staffed by an experienced school
library media specialist and student academic achievement. School
library media centers can contribute to improved student achievement by
providing up-to-date instructional materials aligned to the curriculum
and instructional practices, collaborating with and supporting
teachers, administrators, and parents, and extending their hours of
operation beyond the school day.
Increasing federal funding would allow libraries nationwide to build
additional capacity and further expand core services. Congress could
provide library users nationwide with improved access to information
and library services could be targeted to people of diverse geographic,
cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with
disabilities, and to people with limited literacy.
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