ARLIS-L members, Recently US House of Representatives Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan issued a proposed budget whose provisions include elimination of IMLS. Read more about this at: http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2014/04/legislation/ryans-proposed-2015-budget-would-eliminate-imls/ If this part of the budget proposal raises concerns, take action through a “We the People” petition posted April 3, 2014. 100,000 signatures are needed by May 3, 2014 to ensure that the White House will respond to the petition. You can sign the petition at: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/release-statement-funding-libraries-and-museums-core-federal-responsibility/6g1tTXHv If you do not already have an account to sign We the People petitions, you will have to create an account in order to sign. The petition states: we petition the obama administration to: Release a statement that funding libraries and museums is a core federal responsibility. The current proposed House Budget says "The Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent agency that makes grants to museums and libraries. This is not a core federal responsibility". We would like the White House Administration to release a statement that having an informed and literate citizenry and protecting cultural heritage are priorities for the administration and that funding institutions that contribute to this work is indeed a core federal responsibility. Created: Apr 03, 2014 Carmen Orth-Alfie, MLIS ARLIS/NA Public Policy Committee, co-chair 2013/14 University of Kansas Libraries Anschutz Library, Rm 320C 1301 Hoch Auditoria Dr Lawrence, KS 66045-7537 Work Phone (785)864-8929 Email [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org/join.html Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.arlisna.org Questions may be addressed to list owner (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~