Resolution 18-068 Expressing Support for S.2271, HR.6470 & S.3158 Re: Museum Library Services Act of 2017

CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA

Aderhold/Smith

RESOLUTION 18-068

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA EXPRESSING SUPPORT  FOR FEDERAL BILL S.2271 MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ACT OF 2017 AND SUPPORTING BILLS H.R. 6470 AND S.3158 THAT ALLOCATE FUNDING CRUCIAL TO ALASKA’S LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS; AND URGING ALASKA’S CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TO CO-SPONSOR ALL THREE FEDERAL BILLS.

WHEREAS, S.2271 is a federal bill that reauthorizes the Museum and Library Services Act that expired in 2016 but has continued to fund the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) program; and

WHEREAS, H.R.6470 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 and S.3158 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act are federal bills that support and correlate with S.2271; and

WHEREAS, All three bills have been introduced on the Senate and House level, with the next step being a vote on the Senate and House floors; and

WHEREAS, The votes must be done by October 1, 2018, otherwise a “temporary funding measure” will continue the funding at last year’s level.  It is likely that the votes will not happen by the deadline and will be delayed until after the November elections with the seating of the new congressional members; and

WHEREAS, The IMLS awarded $2,009,500 to Libraries and Museums in Alaska during 2017, including $954,00 in Library Services and Technology Act funds to the Alaska State Library, $240,000 in Native American Basic Library Services grants to Alaska Native organizations; and $635,550 for project grants to museums and libraries; and

WHEREAS, The overall impact of funds provided through the IMLS is crucial for libraries in Alaska, including the Homer Public Library as these funds directly benefit the Homer Public Library staff, services, and programs; and

WHEREAS, Libraries by definition are resource-sharing institutions and reductions to the amount available for the State Library to work with and distribute will impact all libraries in Alaska, including Homer Public Library; and

WHEREAS, Senator Murkowski is a co-sponsor of S.2271, and it is imperative that all of our Alaska Congressional Delegation support these three federal bills that so significantly impact our State and local libraries.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska supports  federal bill S.2271 Museum And Library Services Act of 2017 and supporting bills H.R.6470 and S.3158 that allocate funding crucial to Alaska’s libraries and museums.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of Homer, Alaska strongly urges Alaska’s congressional representatives to co-sponsor all three federal bills.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council on this 27th day of August, 2018.

CITY OF HOMER

_______________________________            
DONNA ADERHOLD, MAYOR PRO TEMPORE

ATTEST:

______________________________               
MELISSA JACOBSEN, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A