News and Advice on grants, budgets, school funding, and more from School Library Journal en-us http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/community/Funding/47064.html?nid=3254 2008 Reed Business Information. Subject to its Terms of Use. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:26:29 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6574007.html?nid=3254 The House last month authorized more than $6 billion annually for the next few years to help states build and renovate greener schools. The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act, which passed 250 to 164, authorizes $6.4 billion for fiscal year 2009 and similar amounts for subsequent years to help school districts modernize, renovate, and repair buildings to make them ... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6573386.html?nid=3254 Despite last-ditch efforts by library supporters, the Mesa Public School Board in Arizona voted this week to eliminate all teacher librarians over a three-year period. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:05:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6569555.html?nid=3254 Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish School Board is keeping its word—it’s about to restore a handful of elementary school librarians. Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6567441.html?nid=3254 The Humble School District in Texas says it will have to make cuts--including the elimination of 39 media specialists. Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6565673.html?nid=3254 Last fall, at the SLJ Summit, one of our speakers was Peter Pearson, who talked about advocacy. Pearson, who is president of the very successful Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, had essentially a simple message: the best advocates for libraries aren’t librarians. Or authors. Or publishers. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6555553.html?nid=3254 Despite growing recognition that school libraries help boost student achievement, media centers and the librarians who staff them still don’t receive sufficient funding, says a new study by the American Library Association (ALA). In fact, money for school libraries has decreased dramatically over the last 10 years, according to the 2008 “State of America’s Libraries” rep... Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6554431.html?nid=3254 It’s still not too late to sign up for National Library Legislative Day, an annual event sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), which brings hundreds of library supporters to Washington, DC, to urge lawmakers to support libraries. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6553533.html?nid=3254 School library supporters in Mesa, AZ, are launching a petition and staging a rally in the hopes of getting the district’s governing board to reverse its decision to eliminate media specialists over the next three years. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6552312.html?nid=3254 Bowing to public opinion, Arizona’s Tucscon Unified School Districtc board on April 8 took an abrupt U-turn, voting to reverse its decision to force elementary schools to choose between axing librarians or counselors to save money. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:31:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6551329.html?nid=3254 Despite the growing recognition that school libraries help boost student achievement, media centers and the librarians who staff them still don’t receive sufficient funding, says a new study by the American Library Association. Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6545441.html?nid=3254 School librarians are having a rough time—and those in Arizona and California are feeling the effects of massive budget cuts, resulting in slashed hours and pink slips statewide. “I’m scared,” says Ann Dutton Ewbank, a librarian at Arizona State University and the former president of the Arizona Library Association. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6545445.html?nid=3254 The three Spokane women who have been passionately pleading their case to adequately fund and improve school libraries statewide succeeded last month in convincing their state legislature to put a $4 million “school libraries” line item into the state budget. The $4.09 per pupil outlay, starting next school year, may seem small, but Washington has joined only a small group of states... Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6540623.html?nid=3254 Score one for the “Washington Moms.” The three Spokane women who have been passionately pleading their case to adequately fund and improve school libraries statewide succeeded this week in convincing their state legislature to put an $4.0 million “school libraries” line item into the state budget. Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:30:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6540535.html?nid=3254 Here’s another chance to help with federal library funding. The American Library Association is asking members and library supporters to contact their Senators in Washington, DC, by Friday, March 14 to urge them to support the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program. Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:48:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6539158.html?nid=3254 The average book in New York public school libraries is between 21 to 25 years old, and current state aid isn’t keeping up with the cost of books, leading to the unacceptable aging of collections, says a new report by the New York Library Association. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6538956.html?nid=3254 If you can find some time in your busy schedule, take a minute to participate in the "School Libraries Count!" longitudinal study by the American Association of School Librarians. Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:29:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6536962.html?nid=3254 The Orange County (FL) Library District, the Sacramento (CA) Public Library, and the Natrona County (WY) Public Library are some of the dozen libraries nationwide that recently received grants totaling more than $850,000 to help young patrons and their families gain greater access to investing information and resources. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6536651.html?nid=3254 It’s a wonderful thing to be into your fifties and know that you’re more relevant than ever. And no, smart alecks, I’m not talking about myself. I’m talking about School Library Journal. Our roots lie in helping librarians develop the best possible collections for children and young adults. Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6536661.html?nid=3254 President Bush’s farewell message to school libraries is very clear: no extra money for you next year. In his just-released 2009 budget, Bush proposed a funding hike for public libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)—but he kept monies for the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program at $19. Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 MST http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6535060.html?nid=3254 Microsoft’s settlement of class-action suits stemming from claims that the software giant overcharged for programs, including Windows and Excel, has entered round two: the dispersing of millions of unclaimed dollars to eligible schools around the country. Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:55:00 MST