The Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) joins with other state library associations and national organizations to urge Congress to invest in the nation’s education and economy by increasing the LSTA Grants to States program to $325 million per year, or one dollar for every American, to support library services in Rhode Island and across the nation.

LSTA funding in Rhode Island supports statewide services such as the Children’s Summer Reading Program, the Talking Books Library for the visually impaired, digital literacy training, and local library services across the state as coordinated by the State of Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS).

“LSTA is of vital importance to Rhode Island,” says Kieran Ayton. “This funding will serve a diverse people through these library programs and is crucial to continuing to provide these resources to residents in the state.”

Funding for the Grants to States program through the Institute of Museum and Library Services currently allocates $164 million to support state-based library services, approximately 49 cents per resident or about .00004 percent of the total federal budget.

See full resolution here.