AkLA Handbook Section II:2
Legislative Priorities

• 2010 Legislative Priorities
• Full Funding of State Library
• Importance of School Librarians
• Library Construction & Expansion Matching Grant Program
• Open Access to Information
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The Alaska Library Association (AkLA) is an association of librarians, library trustees, library supporters, and others who work to support libraries in Alaska. Members are drawn from all types of libraries--school, academic, public and special. Many companies that do business with Alaska libraries join the Association as commercial members. 

Each year at its annual face-to-face meeting in September, AkLA establishes a set of legislative priorities. These priorities address what AkLA believes are the most pressing needs of libraries of all types around the state. The Association agrees to work with with AkLA lobbyist to secure passage of legislation that furthers these priorities.

2010 Legislative Priorities

AkLA supports full funding for the programs and services of the Alaska State Library. AkLA also supports the critical capital need for budget appropriations to fund the building of a new Alaska State Libraries, Archives and Museum facility.

The leadership role of the Alaska State Library enables the staff of libraries, large and small, urban and rural, to provide better library service to all Alaska residents. The programs and services of the Alaska State Library make library service possible across Alaska in places where it would not otherwise exist. The State Library coordinates cooperative projects among Alaska's libraries and provides important services, which benefit libraries and their constituents statewide. These include:

• Interlibrary loan
• Alaska state publications depository program
• Alaska Historical Collections
• Talking book services to the blind and disabled
• Information on State government
• Staff training and support for libraries of all sizes
• Management of the state public library assistance grant program
• Management of the federal Library Services and Technology (LSTA) grant program.

AkLA believes that every student in the state needs and deserves the services of a certified school librarian, and AkLA supports full funding for the Public School Library Collection Development Grants.

Certified school librarians are educators who are trained to provide staff, students and parents with services and programs to meet state standards for students' competency in information literacy. They acquire, organize, and maintain library collections to support school curricula and offer instruction in the use of those collections to find, evaluate, manage, and utilize information effectively, efficiently, and responsibly.

School library budgets vary widely between and within school districts.  Many students do not have access to up-to-date and varied print materials.  To increase Alaskan students’ access to quality materials for their school curriculum, it is vitally important for school libraries to receive adequate funding.  To this end we urge full funding ($3,000 per school) of the Public School Library Collection Development Grants (AS 14.56.360-.375). This appropriation to the operating budget of the Alaska State Library will support School libraries throughout the state.

AkLA supports appropriating funds to the Library Construction and Major Expansion Matching Grant Program.

Funding for this program(AS 14.56.355-56) through the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development will allow Alaska’s municipalities to build and renovate their libraries with a 50/50 (local/state) match.  Through this program the State of Alaska will partner with local communities as it does with its school building program to recognize the major long term investment in lifelong learning that a public library represents for its’ citizens.

Many local libraries open their doors to Alaskan citizens outside of their jurisdiction and all share their resources with every Alaskan, so targeted state support of this program is highly appropriate.

AkLA supports the role of libraries in a democracy to provide open access to information for all Alaskans.

Access to information is an essential element of good government. Our ability to govern ourselves depends on having access to information about all aspects of the issues that face us. The library serves as one of the primary sources of information for the entire community, regardless of a person's interests, background, age or economic status. To help Alaskans make informed decisions and participate fully in the democratic process, libraries must be able to provide unfettered access to material from which individuals may select the information and viewpoints they find appropriate for themselves and their families. Libraries must also be able to provide this access in a setting that protects the privacy of the users (guaranteed in the Alaska Constitution) and the confidentiality of the library resources they select (mandated by state statute), because “when users recognize or fear” that these rights have been compromised, “true freedom of inquiry no longer exists.”

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