Delaware Libraries need your help reaching our state legislature with an important message on Library Legislative Day. The "One Ask" for our libraries includes new funding for public libraries and school libraries in every community and school. We are asking for the state to support its share of funding for collections, programs, services, and buildings while helping us ramp up the innovative and important collaborations that benefit our students, their families, and every resident. The "One Ask" has three powerful components:
- Expanding funding for Service Ready libraries: Additional $5 million in State Standards Fund to support the expansion of physical collections, digital and instructional resources, and partnerships, as well as library staffing and operating costs.
- Connecting school libraries and public libraries: We want to see each and every school library's catalog connected to the Delaware Library Catalog. It is time to put a new $1 million state investment to work through the state.
- Building and remodeling nine more libraries: Pass the 2023 bond bill to match years of local fundraising and the dedicated ARPA funding to let us break ground on new and expanded libraries in all three counties.
Please take the important step of signing this petition and sending a message to your state Representative and Senator to Back the One Ask today. With an additional $5 more per resident, Delaware Libraries can expand physical collections, digital & instructional resources, and partnerships, as well as staffing & operating costs. Together, we can help ensure that our libraries are able to serve everyone in our state.