We complied and left his office. Tamara King, a parent and resident of St. Charles County, told the NewsHour it feels like the states residents should still be concerned even if the budget is not yet final. The fight is not over, however. Libraries provide a lifeline to this service, among others. Guides: Missouri Library Staff Guide: Helpful Resources Let thelegislatorsbelow know how much you care about libraries! JEFFERSON CITY The chief Senate budget writer said he plans to restore state funding for Missouris public libraries that was stripped out of the House version of the states spending plan. This is a non-partisan issue! Were glad to help. We won this battle for Missouris libraries. The fine folks at Reddit boosted the signal, too. (The Missouri River Regional Library staff is amazing!) * Direct people to www.savemolibraries.org for updates on the campaign. The librarian, who asked to be identified with the pseudonym Amy, has begun reviewing her entire librarys collection in order to comply with the new lawbut she has decided not to ask any of her colleagues for help. Winning this battle proves that we can win the war. These people have the power to make sure all of our $6 million in MO Library funding is returned! This includes Kansas City Perhaps most frighteningly, a librarian or educator violating the law s imply by including an explicit book within their catalog may face up to a year in prison. We decided to get some of our amazing teens together and take them to the Capitol to meet with their legislators to talk about why libraries are so important in their communities. After one of our teen's questions we were told that since there were meetings going on we were being too loud and had to leave. I used to live in MO and still visit family there. We decided to get some of our amazing teens together and take them to the Capitol to meet with their legislators to talk about why libraries are so important in their communities. Missouri Ploud Program. The first wave in 700-plus St. Louis-area layoffs start Aug. 25. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. . Committee chair Cody Smith, R-Carthage, said last week that the state shouldnt fund the lawsuit. This service is free to readers and other news outlets. EveryLibrary is a registered 501(c)4 organization (FEIN 46-1534149). Missouri's Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has proposed new rules that would block state funding for public libraries that offer books containing "non-age-appropriate materials." Anyone can. All Rights Reserved. Address: 200 S. 5th St. Hannibal, Missouri. All Rights Reserved. This new budget proposal library cuts included has already passedthe Missouri House. We cannot afford to shortchange these vital institutions. The library money was removed from the House blueprint by House Budget Chairman Cody Smith and backed by the Republicans who control the chamber last week. HANDOUT Kurt Erickson JEFFERSON CITY The chief Senate budget writer said he plans to restore state funding for Missouri's public. A downtown parking garage is crumbling. Opponents of the proposed cuts argue the move is unconstitutional, pointing to a 1945 statute in the Missouri constitution declaring the establishment and development of free public libraries and to accept the obligation of their support by the state and its subdivisions and municipalities in such manner as may be provided by law., Rep. Peter Merideth, a ranking Democrat on the state houses budget committee who tried along with other party members to reinstate the funding, called the move to strip the funds horrific, and borderline fascist., I hate using that word, he said. The St. Louis city library system receives an estimated $452,000, while St. Louis County library district is on tap to receive about $660,000, according to figures provided by the Secretary of States office. We asked if their staff would come out into the hall with us and talk to us there so we wouldnt bother anyone and they denied that request. (Pics from the rally are there!). Apr 4, 2023 8 Central Library at 1301 Olive Street. This could cause cutbacks to library collections, services and staff that will be felt by citizens all across the state. Together, we can save libraries. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Libraries are an important resource for so many people, Hough said. ACLU-MO filed the suit on behalf of the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association (MLA) in an effort to overturn a state law passed in 2022 that bans. We all had a great day until we got the Governors office where his staff had us thrown out and threatened us with state troopers. They just have to go home and Google it. But as far into the Internet era as we are, not everybody in Missouri has that opportunity, he said. Duane G. Meyer Library, Room 306 (third floor) 850 John Q. Hammons Parkway Springfield, MO 65897. From state to state, libraries are struggling. We had library systems from all over Missouri join us! Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says the new administrative rules would not ban material from shelves, as has happened in school districts statewide following the passage of Senate Bill 775, but would require libraries to have written, posted policies explaining how it was determined that material was age-appropriate, as well as a policy the public can follow to challenge age . In other words, a politician either lied or didnt have his facts straight, and now 160 library districts risk losing state aid in June. Frequently. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, second reversal of a House budget priority, Editorial: Latest Trump audio shows an unstable man-child who belongs nowhere near power, Missouri slaughterhouse wants OK to pump 350,000 gallons per day of treated wastewater into river, Merger of BJC and Saint Lukes will likely raise hospital prices in Missouri, analysts say, Kings of the Hill? And while there are carve-outs for images with serious artistic or scientific significance, those distinctions are inherently subjective. Another aspect of it is that they receive matching funds from the federal government at this point. The Missouri legislature just voted to defund public libraries in the The Governor is currently withholding 6 million dollars in appropriated funds from the libraries statewide and has recommended the same cuts next year. Save MO Libraries. Administrators, teacher, librarians, or any other school personnel found providing sexually explicit material to school children could face a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. ACLU-MO filed the suit on behalf of the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association (MLA) in an effort to overturn a state law passed in 2022 that bans sexually explicit material from schools. During the unrest following the death of Michael Brown, the Ferguson Public Library offered a place of solace, congregation and learning, a role that was recognized in Gov. EveryLibrary 2019. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). I got to introduce some great speakers: our Library Director Crosby Kemper, noted civil rights activist Alvin Sykes, Camden County Library Director Michael Davis, State Librarian Barbara Reading, and teens from Kansas City Academy, Southwest High, Truman, East High, Northeast High and Van Horn. It has already struck fear in the ranks of librarians statewide. Missouri State University Libraries | Springfield MO - Facebook Call. Resources provided to Missouri's public libraries by the State Library or MOREnet. Left: Missouri ACLU leaders said in a statement the defunding targets libraries and its patrons. But apparently thathas hurt a senior Republican legislators feelings: Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith reportedly said he was upset by the suit and as a result proposed the budgetary removal of state library funding. Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye is among the books being targeted nationwide by public school book bans (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector). Mr. Kemper and myself tried to reason with the staff and were then told that they would have State Troopers escort us out if we didn't leave immediately. But further, the book banning amendment within SB 775 needs to be repealed. What in the world happened to Mo? On it you will find contact information for the Governor and for the House/Senate budgetary committees. ). Some people would say, well, if kids want to learn about that, its all there. PO Box 406, 45 E. Burlington St., Riverside, IL 60546, United States. All of the meetings went very well. Thank you for signing up! * This link includes handouts and images you can use at your library! There was a problem saving your notification. This newest budget proposal needs to be opposed by all readers, writers, community advocates, and yes, parents. We got many of the teens into the reception area and then started calmly and respectfully asking them questions. Both library organizations are also run by volunteers every state has an equivalent of these two organizations that serve public and school libraries. County: Marion. We had almost 100 teenagers take off from Kansas City for the Save MO Libraries Rally bright and early at 8 a.m. with a great media send off. The Senateappears unlikelyto approve these cuts. Magazine. The Missouri Independent is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization dedicated to relentless investigative journalism and daily reporting that sheds light on state government and its impact on the lives of Missourians. And as you know, inflation continues to be a problem, Cooper said. Missouri's Libraries are in danger. Governor Nixon is trying to defund Missouri libraries to the tune of $6 million per year. Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the size of the $60 million St. Louis County Library District budget. . (Pics from the rally are there! * Follow @kclibraryteens on Twitter and Facebook. Last chance! It was a spirited rally and the teens were especially great. It hurts Missouris librarians. How Can the Archives Benefit My Office? Bowman said state funds make up about 1% of Daniel Boone Regional Librarys budget, which includes the Columbia Public Library. Republican lawmakers say they are doing this to retaliate against a lawsuit by Missouri librarians, who hope to see a new law against explicit sexual material in schools in reality, a book banning mandate declared unconstitutional. For many communities, the library is the center of community, St. Louis County Library District CEO and President Kristen Sorth said. St. Louis Public Library offers online electronic resource access to a number of databases, which are all . Republican lawmakers say they are doing this to retaliate against a lawsuit by Missouri librarians, who hope to see a new law against "explicit sexual material" in schools in reality, a book banning . * The petition to the Governor has received over 300 signatures since yesterday. Subreddit icon: "book" by smallcurio, CC BY Schmidt: The Bud Light controversy is the free market in action. Gabrielle Hays is a Communities Reporter for the PBS NewsHour out of St. Louis. This subreddit is temporarily Restricted (read-only) as part of a joint protest to Reddit's recent API changes, which breaks third-party apps and moderation tools, effectively forcing users to use the official Reddit app. EveryLibrary Institute has tracked more than two dozen new obscenity bills introduced this year alone, as of March 23, 2023. Like in all ACLU cases, the organization is not charging the two Missouri library groups for services. A subreddit dedicated to the Kansas City metro area. Missouri House Republicans want to defund libraries. Here's why This comes after Republican House Budget Chairman Cody Smith proposed a $4.5 million cut to public libraries state aid last week in the initial House Budget Committee hearing, where Smith cited a lawsuit filed against Missouri by the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri (ACLU-MO) as the reason for the cut. Our rural libraries rely the most heavily on this funding to serve their communities, and they will be crippled by this drastic budget cut, the organization said in a statement. A record number of books faced official censorship attempts last year, with familiar LGBTQ titles crowding the new annual banned book list. Vote. Missouri Library Directory. by James Tager, Missouri Independent April 10, 2023. Save space. Missouri Ploud provides websites to small and rural libraries hosted by the vendor, Enfold Systems, and subsidized by the Missouri State Library with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds. If the members of the committee are concerned about preserving taxpayer funds, they should stop enacting laws they know do not meet constitutional muster, not burden local governments in a misguided effort to silence organizations who object to the legislatures overreach, state ACLU leaders said. Online Resources for Libraries. The teens decided that the rally should happen regardless of the rain, though. The measures definitionof explicit sexual material is sweeping, applying toany visual depiction of a range of physical attributes or acts. Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org. If you are interested in supporting Save Missouri Libraries there are a lot of excellent calls to action at the end of this post. Beyond internet, libraries have historically provided analog services that existed long before fiber optics, such as passport services, free concerts and assistance with voter registration. COLUMBIA, Mo. Missouri House adds diversity rule, defunds libraries in budget sent to Reddit, Inc. 2023. By. The funding cuts were first approved by the Missouri House Budget Committee. They learned a lot on this trip, and it sounds like the silver lining is that they are even more committed to seeing changes. Save money. The new budget sets funds for libraries to $0. Thank you. Suffice it to say that while I am currently a stay-at-home-mom, I am also an information specialist. I have never been so disrespected by a public official and am especially appalled they treated our kids that way and then blamed it on them. How Should We Feel About Barnes & Noble Now? As with every case when the ACLU represents someone, we are not charging our clients to challenge the unconstitutional book ban the legislature passed last year, the statement read. Phone: (573) 522-4036 E-Mail: [email protected] MENU. While the budget still needs to work its way through the Senate and the governors office, state funding for public libraries is very much on the chopping block in Missouri. Among the books: The graphic novel adaptations of Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse Five and The Handmaids Tale, Batman comics, and books about famous women. Nearly 300 books have been removed from school libraries under the law, according to EducationWeek. Save Missouri Libraries Sorth said that no state funding is going toward the suit and that the ACLU is providing free legal aid. Republican Sen. Lincoln Hough, who chairs the Senate Committee on appropriations, called the houses decision shortsighted., Libraries provide access to reading materials for people that maybe dont have the means to order every book that they want, Hough said. But, photographs, drawings, videos and other visual depictions are prohibited. United States. Magazines - Missouri Libraries 2Go - OverDrive Please check your inbox to confirm. 47.3k members in the Libraries community. Follow @kclibraryteens on Twitter and Facebook. Phone: 573-221-0222. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We had library systems from all over Missouri join us! The threats to Missouri's libraries are echoed in state legislatures and local governments across the US, with right-wing activist campaigns against titles by and about LGBT+ people or. #savemolibraries The Governor has released the 6 million dollars in state aid to Missouri Libraries but has recommended the same budget cuts next year!
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