In addition, we will be streamlining the process with one grant application deadline for all IMLS museum programs (January 15, 2013).  Applicants will be able to submit multiple grant applications for each IMLS program.

Draft grant application guidelines will be available in early May 2012  for public review and comment.

For more details please see our “Frequently Asked Questions”  posted on the IMLS website.

Please feel free to distribute the FAQ and don’t hesitate to contact Kevin O’Connell (koconnell@imls.gov) or Mamie Bittner (mbittner@imls.gov)  with any additional questions

Anyone who remembers Schoolhouse Rock’s “How a Bill Becomes a Law” knows that the process is long, arduous and frustrating.  That’s the bad news.  The good news is that library advocates have opportunities to make a difference at every step of the way.  In this webinar Stephanie Vance will give you the insider secrets on using the legislative process to your advantage.  She’ll show you how to be engaged at every point — from introduction and referral to conference committee — as well as the key things you should know about any legislative arena before diving in.  Participants will come away from the session with a checklist and work plan to implement these ideas right away – and make a positive difference for libraries!

Title: The Legislative Process and You: How it Works and How to Make a Difference

Date: February 27, 2012

Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

Space is limited, sign up today!

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Reducing support for literacy under the Fund for Improvement of Education (FIE) takes books, valuable technological services and critical learning programs away from at-risk children nationwide. We are disappointed the President has chosen to cut programs for this already struggling population. We hope Congress will restore support to help provide at-risk children with a 21^st century education, preparing them for college and career.

The president’s budget leaves out literacy money under FIE and consolidates Improving Literacy through School Libraries with five other literacy programs.

“Libraries contribute in significant ways to support the economic recovery of their local communities. The President’s proposal for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) demonstrates the administration’s recognition that libraries are part of the solution for our economic recovery. LSTA helps job-seekers as well as employers and funding it is important for communities throughout the states. With a robustly funded library to serve its community, many job seekers will have the means to find and apply for jobs through Internet access at their local library, as well as access to information literacy skills training necessary for work in the 21^st century.”

The president’s budget requested $184.7 million for LSTA to be administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This request is equal to the current funding level. These funds make access to online resources possible for job assistance, small businesses, homework help, summer reading programs, lifelong learning, and digital literacy for everyone.

If passed, the Federal Research Public Access Act of 2012 would:

• Require federal departments and agencies with an annual extramural research budget of $100 million to develop a policy to ensure researchers submit an electronic copy of the final manuscript accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
• Ensure that the manuscript is preserved in a stable digital repository maintained by that agency or in another suitable repository that permits free public access, interoperability, and long-term preservation.
• Require that each taxpayer-funded manuscript be made available to the public online and without cost, no later than six months after the article has been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Sound familiar? It should – these bills are essentially identical to FRPAA legislation introduced in previous Congresses dating back to 2006.  The ALA has a history of strong support for this type of legislation – as they build on the success of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy implemented in 2008.  If you recall, the NIH Public Access Policy ensures that the public have access to the published results of NIH funded research no later than 12 months after publication. FRPAA legislation would be a big step in the right direction by expanding the amount of research made available and providing access to it to no later than 6 months after publication.

Rep. Doyle sums up the intent of the legislation by stating in his press release,

Americans have the right to see the results of research funded with taxpayer dollars….Yet such research too often gets locked away behind a pay-wall, forcing those who want to learn from it to pay expensive subscription fees for access.

Bottom line – our patrons, the American public, should not have to fund federal research with their tax dollars and then have to pay for it again to access it.  The ALA has been a long-time, ardent supporter of increasing access to information of all types, including federally funded research. Thus, the ALA is a strong supporter of FRPAA legislation and will advocate for passage of these bills.

But wait, there’s more! FRPAA is also the perfect antidote to the bitter anti-open access “pill” being pushed by Rep. Issa in the House with his Research Works Act bill (H.R. 3699).  Rep. Issa’s bill, if passed, would nullify the NIH Public Access policy and prevent any such similar policies from being implemented.  Let’s shift the conversation and focus our energy on legislation that improves access to the public (i.e. taxpayers).  Today’s (re)introduction of FRPAA legislation is a positive and welcome addition to improving access to federally funded research.

Corey Williams
Associate Director, Office of Government Relations
American Library Association

Additional resources:

• To learn more see the recently updated NIH Public Access Policy (pdf) fact sheet, as well as the NIH policy overview).
• Not to give the anti-open access Research Works Act too much attention (it doesn’t deserve it), you can read more about the ALA’s strong opposition to the bill in my recent District Dispatch post on January 9, 2012, titled Trying to roll back the clock on Open Access: Research Works Act introduced.