From Norma Blake, State Librarian

I want to bring everyone up-to-date on what the State Library is doing with regard to the federal stimulus package.

Staff, with the input of NJLA, has developed a Federal Legislative Agenda which focuses on proposals for programs and services that fit in with the funding areas of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Proposals include the development of virtual career centers in each New Jersey public library; the establishment of public libraries as safe havens for young adults and teens from gangs and growing violence in communities statewide; funding for 51 shovel-ready public library construction projects statewide; the upgrade of broadband connectivity for public libraries; the establishment of a statewide literacy program for public libraries to work with Head Start programs; and the connection of New Jersey veterans and other blind or disabled NJ taxpayers with the services of the New Jersey State Library for the Blind and Handicapped. A copy of this agenda will be posted on our online newsletter on the State Library Web site.

I have written the Governor\x92s Office, the Chairs of the committee appointed by the Governor to implement this recovery act, Ed McBride, the Governor\x92s Chief of Staff, and Matt Boxer, the New Jersey State Comptroller. In addition, I have contacted the committee members of the Assembly and Senate Committees on Commerce and Economic Development. In these letters, I have carefully delineated how libraries are integral to the many programs funded through the stimulus package and included a copy of our Federal Legislative Agenda. NJLA and the State Library are working on meeting with the Governor\x92s office to discuss the role of libraries in the stimulus package. We are also proposing that librarians serve on the various committees which are forming on the implementation of the Act. We believe that librarians need to be on these committees and are working towards that end.

State Library staff is now beginning to develop our various proposals. Kathi Peiffer will work with a data base committee, to which she will be adding more librarians, on the proposal for virtual career centers. Sharon Rawlins will be developing the Head Start early childhood literacy proposal with the help of a new committee. If you would like to serve on this committee, please contact Sharon at 609-278-2640, ext. 116. Rob Zangara will proceed with the broadband proposal, through possible collaboration with NJ Edge. Tina Keresztury is working on library construction and the libraries as safe havens proposal to keep New Jersey\x92s young people safe. Adam Szczepaniak and Erin McCord from LBH are developing the proposal to reach out to veterans and to NJ taxpayers who have declared themselves blind or disabled on their federal income tax forms. I am also seeking other good proposal ideas from the library community. If you have any ideas for proposals that could fit in with the stimulus package, please contact me.

The State Library and NJLA are working closely together to monitor all aspects of the stimulus package. A committee consisting of Pat Tumulty, Cindy Czesak, Eileen Palmer, and Tina Keresztury, Kathi Peiffer, Victoria Rosch and Rob Zangara will meet regularly to plan for the integration of libraries into the recovery act.

For more information, ALA has a Web site you should visit www.ala.org/knowyourstimulus where they will post the \x93Top Ten Things You Can Do Now to Get ARRA Broadband Funding for Your Library.\x94

I will keep everyone informed as we move forward. Please contact me at any times with your questions or comments at nblake@PROTECTED or at (609) 278-2640, x101.

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