[NFBWATlk] Fwd: WTBBL Budget

[Humberto Avila]

Dear All,


Passing along for your information. See below. Please help us spread the 
word about WTBBL. The library is experiencing budget issues and there's 
hiped anxiety regarding losing money to operate their Braille and audio 
programs.




-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	WTBBL Budget
Date: 	Sat, 15 Feb 2025 19:06:23 +0000
From: 	Miller, Danielle <danielle.miller at sos.wa.gov>
To: 	Miller, Danielle <danielle.miller at sos.wa.gov>



Dear PAC,

As discussed in the meeting, here is information on how you can contact 
your legislators, both state and federal and information on state and 
federal funding issues. You can also reach out to Sara Jones at 
sara.jones at sos.wa.gov for more information. Thank you! Danielle

To leave a message for your legislators you can call the Legislative 
Hotline at *800-562-6000* or find your own legislators using the 
District Finder: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/

*State Funds:* The Legislature should fully fund the Washington State 
Library and the *Washington Talking Book & Braille Library* with the 
$12.2 million in supplemental funding requested for library 
stabilization. This funding is critical to keep WTBBL programs 
operational and to continue to provide services to patrons with print 
disabilities statewide. Without full funding, the State Library, 
including the *Washington Talking Book & Braille Library*, will lose 
staff positions, reduce services, limit access for persons with 
disabilities, and delay important conservation and preservation of 
critical resources.

*Federal Funds:* Congressional legislators need to support and continue 
to fund the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and federal 
grants to State Libraries. WTBBL has almost one third of our budget and 
funding in these federal funds and a loss of this federal funding would 
be devastating to staff positions, services and our ability to perform 
the work we do. Federal funding plays a crucial role in supporting 
libraries across Washington. Each year, the Institute of Museum and 
Library Services (IMLS) provides annual funding through the Grants to 
States program. The current award is $3.9 million. This funding is a 
significant source for the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library- if 
we lose this funding it will have a dramatic effect- combined with 
losing state resources the program will be crippled.