1. President Proposes Increases in LSTA Funding for FY 2010
2. Social Security "Retire Online" Campaign
3. Upcoming Grant Opportunities
4. Website of the Week - MedLine Plus
5. Calendar
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1. PRESIDENT PROPOSES INCREASES IN LSTA FUNDING FOR FY 2010
President Barack Obama has requested a slight increase in federal funding for libraries in fiscal year 2010, via the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The request totals $213,240,000, including $172,357,000 for the grants to states program, up slightly from $171,500,000 for fiscal year 2009. While this is a small increase, funding for the LSTA grants to states program was increased by over 6% for fiscal year 2009 by the omnibus appropriations bill passed by Congress in January 2009. This increase allowed the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to award emergency grants to support library services to job seekers and those who want to improve their job skills.
The President also proposed funding for LSTA National Leadership Grants, which support new "tools, research, models, services, practices, or alliances," at $12,499,000 for 2010, up from $12,437,000 for 2009.
In addition, Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grants for training would increase to $24,648,000 from $24,525,000. Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services grants would increase to $3,736,000 from $3,717,000.
2. SOCIAL SECURITY "RETIRE ONLINE" CAMPAIGN
Social Security Administration is asking public libraries for help in promoting their new campaign, "Retire Online." This campaign features a new online retirement application that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. The application is available online at
http://www.socialsecurity.gov and can easily be completed at any library computer. A brochure on the subject can be viewed at
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10522.pdf. For copies of the Retire Online or one-time payment brochures, or for additional information from Social Security, please e-mail Carolyn Houston at
Carolyn.Houston@ssa.gov or call her at 410-965-7603. Please indicate the quantity desired (in units of 100) and where the publications should be shipped.
In May 2009, as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Social Security will distribute a one-time payment of $250 to over 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries. A leaflet which discusses this in greater detail is available online at
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10519.pdf.
Social Security will be launching their third annual Mother's Day and Father's Day campaigns promoting the "Extra Help with Medicare" prescription drug plan costs. The SSA will keep libraries updated as to when these new outreach materials are available.
Partnering with Social Security to promote these initiatives will benefit the populations served by libraries. Publishing articles about these initiatives in library newsletters or other publications is another method of getting this important information out.
3. UPCOMING GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Schools and public libraries may be eligible to apply for the following grant opportunities:
Beacon Society's Jan Stauber Grant
The Beacon Society announced the Jan Stauber Grant which provides up to $250 to fund a proposal that will introduce young people to the Sherlock Holmes stories. Applications must be received by June 1. Schools and public libraries are eligible applicants. For information on the grant go
http://www.beaconsociety.com/JanStauberGrant.html.
Best Buy Community Grants
This year, the Best Buy Children's Foundation will grant $1 million to qualifying organizations. Applications will be accepted between May 15 and June 15. Best Buy seeks applications from organizations with 501(c)(3) tax status that are serving a diverse population of young teens and their families in the areas of learning, life skills, leadership or relationship development. Special consideration will be given to programs that are high quality and serve a diverse population; build social, academic, leadership and/or life skills in early adolescents (primarily ages 13-18); show positive results against a demonstrated community need; and reach at-risk children in working families. For more information go to
http://209.68.13.147/community_relations/local_donations_rfp.htm.
Target Offers Reading Grants
Target Stores are offering reading grants to non-profit agencies, including schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations, supporting programs such as weekend book clubs and after-school reading programs that foster a love of reading and encourage children, from birth through age 9, to read together with their families. The deadline for 2009 is May 31, 2009, for programs taking place between October 1, 2009, and September 30, 2010. Winners will receive notification by September 30, 2009. Most grants average between $1,000 and $3,000. For more information go to
http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031821.
4. Website of the Week
MedlinePlus --
http://medlineplus.gov/ -- A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), MedlinePlus provides links to information to help answer health questions. The service brings together information from NLM, NIH, and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MEDLINE searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.
5. CALENDAR
May 15, 2009 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Stevens Point
June 18, 2009 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee, Madison
June 28-July 1, 2009 - National Educational Computing Conference, Washington D.C.
July 9-15, 2009 - American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago
July 10, 2009 - Council on Library and Network Development meeting, Madison
October 15, 2009 - Library Information Technology Advisory Committee, Madison
October 20-23, 2009 - Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference, Appleton
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To access previous issues of Channel Weekly, or to subscribe or unsubscribe, go to:
http://dpi.wi.gov/channel/chweekly.html
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Roslyn M. Wise
Editor, Channel Weekly
Department of Public Instruction
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841
Phone: (608) 266-6439
FAX: (609) 266-8770
For questions about this information, contact Roslyn M. Wise (608) 266-6439
Last updated on 5/15/2009 9:19:14 AM
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