Comments on: From WPA to ARRP: libraries and economic renewal http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html Official Blog of the Public Library Association Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:15:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: jeff (depressioncell.com) http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2992 jeff (depressioncell.com) Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:03:45 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2992 Great article! As a librarian and amateur genealogist, I’ve personally benefited from the WPA’s work for libraries. Just recently the Indiana State Library sent me a copy of my great-grandarents’ marriage license for a nominal fee. The licenses had been indexed by the WPA. Their projects live on and benefit individual lives to this Great article! As a librarian and amateur genealogist, I’ve personally benefited from the WPA’s work for libraries. Just recently the Indiana State Library sent me a copy of my great-grandarents’ marriage license for a nominal fee. The licenses had been indexed by the WPA. Their projects live on and benefit individual lives to this

]]> By: Open Letter to U.S. Congress « MS&R Library World http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2887 Open Letter to U.S. Congress « MS&R Library World Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:39:29 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2887 [...] See also PLA Blog [...] [...] See also PLA Blog [...]

]]> By: Jeffrey Scherer http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2881 Jeffrey Scherer Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:07:12 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2881 Alan The language in the bill currently does not include PUBLIC libraries. Carefully reading this it is for academic libraries and school libraries only. See the exchange below between ALA Dispatch (EMily Sheketoff) and Craig Buthod, director of Louisville Free Public Library--generated after ALA Dispatch posted a response to my letter. Bottom line, I think everyone is trying to get PUBLIC in the language of the bill. From: Emily Sheketoff [mailto:esheketoff@alawash.org] Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 6:36 PM To: Craig Buthod Subject: RE: your column on District Dispatch You are right, we can't ease back...nor can the school or academic library people ease up There is an opening for us to get "public libraries" words added to Modernize Federal and Public Infrastructure...but we need your telling your Member of Congress to help us do just that From: Craig Buthod [mailto:craig.buthod@lfpl.org] Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 4:52 PM To: Emily Sheketoff Subject: your column on District Dispatch I’m concerned that you missed the point of Mr. Scherer’s letter in circulation today, that public libraries are being left out of funding in the stimulus legislation. The legislation reads clearly enough to me that public libraries don’t do very well, although school libraries and academic research libraries have a shot at getting projects funded. I’m happy for those school and academic libraries but we can’t give up. Our public library has a list of renovation projects that are ready to go and would create 370 jobs in 90 days. Within the state of Kentucky there are 27 counties that have projects that are also ready to go. Our congressman’s legislative director has told us that our projects won’t qualify under the two sections you cite. So let’s not ease back on our push for Congress to get this right. Public libraries are critical community assets and economic development tools. Let’s pull together to keep them effective in this economic crisis. I sure hope ALA’s Washington Office isn’t giving up when we’re so close. Craig Buthod, Director, Louisville Free Public Library Alan
The language in the bill currently does not include PUBLIC libraries. Carefully reading this it is for academic libraries and school libraries only. See the exchange below between ALA Dispatch (EMily Sheketoff) and Craig Buthod, director of Louisville Free Public Library–generated after ALA Dispatch posted a response to my letter. Bottom line, I think everyone is trying to get PUBLIC in the language of the bill.

From: Emily Sheketoff []
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 6:36 PM
To: Craig Buthod
Subject: RE: your column on District Dispatch

You are right, we can’t ease back…nor can the school or academic library people ease up

There is an opening for us to get “public libraries” words added to Modernize Federal and Public Infrastructure…but we need your telling your Member of Congress to help us do just that

From: Craig Buthod []
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 4:52 PM
To: Emily Sheketoff
Subject: your column on District Dispatch

I’m concerned that you missed the point of Mr. Scherer’s letter in circulation today, that public libraries are being left out of funding in the stimulus legislation. The legislation reads clearly enough to me that public libraries don’t do very well, although school libraries and academic research libraries have a shot at getting projects funded. I’m happy for those school and academic libraries but we can’t give up. Our public library has a list of renovation projects that are ready to go and would create 370 jobs in 90 days. Within the state of Kentucky there are 27 counties that have projects that are also ready to go. Our congressman’s legislative director has told us that our projects won’t qualify under the two sections you cite. So let’s not ease back on our push for Congress to get this right. Public libraries are critical community assets and economic development tools. Let’s pull together to keep them effective in this economic crisis. I sure hope ALA’s Washington Office isn’t giving up when we’re so close. Craig Buthod, Director, Louisville Free Public Library

]]> By: Alan Bobowski http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2844 Alan Bobowski Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:23:25 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2844 OK, now I'm confused. I just read about the echange between Jeffrey Scherer and ALA about public libraries not being included in the economic recover bills and here comes this article stating 'Just today the House Appropriations Committee released its summary of the $825 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. Mentioned is its intention to “put people to work building 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries to help our kids compete with any worker in the world.” ' So, are public libraries going to be part of the economic stimulus legislation or aren't they? Can anyone clarify this, please? OK, now I’m confused. I just read about the echange between Jeffrey Scherer and ALA about public libraries not being included in the economic recover bills and here comes this article stating
‘Just today the House Appropriations Committee released its summary of the $825 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. Mentioned is its intention to “put people to work building 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries to help our kids compete with any worker in the world.” ‘
So, are public libraries going to be part of the economic stimulus legislation or aren’t they? Can anyone clarify this, please?

]]> By: Tony Sarmiento http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2839 Tony Sarmiento Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:54:51 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2839 Nick Taylor's 2008 book, American-Made:The Enduring Legacy of the WPA, contains a wonderful chapter, "Kentucky's Packhorse Library (Librarian Grace Overbee)." You may want to look at this website: http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/wpa/ Nick Taylor’s 2008 book, American-Made:The Enduring Legacy of the WPA, contains a wonderful chapter, “Kentucky’s Packhorse Library (Librarian Grace Overbee).” You may want to look at this website: http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/wpa/

]]> By: Kim http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2837 Kim Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:56:23 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2837 Great article! As a librarian and amateur genealogist, I've personally benefited from the WPA's work for libraries. Just recently the Indiana State Library sent me a copy of my great-grandarents' marriage license for a nominal fee. The licenses had been indexed by the WPA. Their projects live on and benefit individual lives to this day. Great article! As a librarian and amateur genealogist, I’ve personally benefited from the WPA’s work for libraries. Just recently the Indiana State Library sent me a copy of my great-grandarents’ marriage license for a nominal fee. The licenses had been indexed by the WPA. Their projects live on and benefit individual lives to this day.

]]> By: Kim Reycraft http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2835 Kim Reycraft Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:10:52 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2835 Great article! Little personal story - In the course of doing some genealogical research I recently discovered that the Indiana State Library had a copy of my great-grandfather and -grandmothers' marriage license on microfilm. The key to my discovering this was a WPA index. The library was happy to provide me with a copy of the documents for a nominal fee - and I'm not even an Indiana resident. This little moment of serendipity made me feel very proud of, and thankful for, our country's libraries and the WPA. Great article! Little personal story – In the course of doing some genealogical research I recently discovered that the Indiana State Library had a copy of my great-grandfather and -grandmothers’ marriage license on microfilm. The key to my discovering this was a WPA index. The library was happy to provide me with a copy of the documents for a nominal fee – and I’m not even an Indiana resident.
This little moment of serendipity made me feel very proud of, and thankful for, our country’s libraries and the WPA.

]]> By: Stephanie http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2816 Stephanie Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:58:31 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2816 OK, nice to be able to spell my first name. Darned swipable keyboard! :-) Steph OK, nice to be able to spell my first name. Darned swipable keyboard!

:-)
Steph

]]> By: Stephhanie http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2815 Stephhanie Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:57:39 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2815 Very cool post. I too did not know about the WPA and libraries! But I'm really glad I don't have to ride a horse to do my job.:-) Very cool post. I too did not know about the WPA and libraries! But I’m really glad I don’t have to ride a horse to do my job.:-)

]]> By: Emily http://plablog.org/2009/01/from-wpa-to-arrp-libraries-and-economic-renewal.html/comment-page-1#comment-2814 Emily Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:47:13 +0000 http://plablog.org/?p=1145#comment-2814 Wow, can't believe I never heard of how WPA supported libraries! Great post. I probably am going to spend the rest of the afternoon daydreaming about delivering books by horse... Wow, can’t believe I never heard of how WPA supported libraries! Great post. I probably am going to spend the rest of the afternoon daydreaming about delivering books by horse…

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