Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Using the Internet to Study for the GED Series--Sign Up Today

Sign up today for next Monday's free online webinar on the GED.  The sessions are for program managers, tutors and librarians.  Email literacyflorida@hotmail.com to register.  Provide your name, email, phone number where you will be on Monday and name of your organization.  You will get a link by Monday morning, April 26 to get to the webinar.  You will need a computer and phone to participate.  Plan to sign on by 5:15 p.m. to check out your computer.

Using the Internet to Study for the GED Webinar Series
       Overview of the GED Test  April 26, Monday 5:30 - 7 pm ET 

       GED: Language Arts & Social Studies  May 24, Monday 5:30 - 7 pm ET

       GED: Science & Mathematics   June 21, Monday 5:30 - 7 pm ET

       GED Materials & Online Instruction  July 26, Monday 5:30 - 7 pm ET

These free sessions are presented by Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida (VALF).
      Sandy Newell, President of VALF

Monday, April 19, 2010

Newest on Funding for Libraries

I was right.  The budget conference meets this morning at 8:30 am and will need to reconcil the 1/2 million with 21 million.  Keep up your messages.
------------------------------------------
Ok...what I think I heard just now, was that the Senate put in $21 million for libraries....defintely a move forward. They had it at $15 million.  We need the $21 million to stay even.  House is still at a half million.

Keep you messages up and rational on why...they have to stay there. It is so important for development/survival of libraries in Florida...

It all means free library service, free information, access for all... so important!  See more posts below for context.

Sandy Newell

Library State Aid Funding In Trouble

Tonight the Florida House and Senate are going into conference.  State funding for libraries is in serious trouble.  Libraries need the current funding of $21 million just to keep their heads above water.  ANY cut in State Aid will impact the federal dollars too.  This is serious.  Please send out a message to everyone you know to support maintaining the State Aid funding. Libraries are busier than ever and adult literacy groups depend on them.   Here is the link for more information and to send a message online, but you may want to try some different but fast ways to get their attention.  Again, decisions will be made very soon--in a day or so maybe.

 If you want to follow the process, here are links below.  We'll be posting more for context.  Here is the email from the Legislative Chair of the Florida Library Association.
----------------------------------------------------
Public Library & MLC Funding - Legislature's Budget Conference Process


For those interested in watching the House and Senate Transportation and Economic Development (TED) Appropriations Conference Committee’s deliberations which may include discussion of State Aid to Public Libraries and Library Cooperative program funding, that meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 and should be available from the House “Broadcasts” page - http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/HouseCalendar/broadcast.aspx . I checked with the Florida Channel folks and they confirm that they will be covering the conference committee meetings this evening.

At this meeting, the House conferees will offer their initial funding positions and there will likely be some discussion. The session may run late as they have scheduled it from 5:30 midnight. I anticipate that the House position will be posted on the web on the “House Budget Conference Documents Page” - http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/publications.aspx?publicationType=Committees&DocumentType=Budget%20Conference%20Documents&SessionId=64&Session=2010               at some point prior to the meeting.

We are expecting to get bad news when they take up State Aid funding. The current year funding is $21.2 million which is also the federal Maintenance of Effort amount Florida needs to provide in order to be eligible to receive Library Services and Technology Act dollars. The Senate budget included $15 million and the House had a place keeper $500,000 amount. With respect to the Library Cooperatives Program, the House has $1 million, the Senate has $0, and we are requesting $1.2 million, the same amount as this year. Their positions are likely to change this evening.

Thanks for your interest and support!
Charlie Parker –
Chair
FLA Legislative Committee