The Illinois Library Association has released its 2015 Action Agenda. The main items are library funding, intellectual freedom and privacy, access to library services, and increasing the effectiveness of Illinois libraries. Below are the specific goals for each item. (I’ve put in bold the items that will probably have the biggest impact on hospital and medical libraries.)
Library Funding
- Working to maintain legislative funding at current levels and, when necessary, to bring funding levels back to previous levels, while at the same time seeking alternative source of funding
- Backing legislation that overcomes the negative impact of tax-cap limitation
- Working with the General Assembly to increase funding for the Illinois State Library by enlarging the budget for the Secretary of State
- Working with the General Assembly to maintain sound pension programs
Intellectual Freedom and Privacy
- Continuing efforts to inform the public on Internet safety for children, including the use of interactive web applications
- Opposing legislation requiring that libraries use Internet filters
- Supporting the adoption of an Acceptable Internet Use Policy by the governing bodies of libraries and schools, using community input
- Opposing legislation that decreases library users’ privacy
Access to Library Services
- Opposing legislation that would decrease the services offered through public library districts
- Supporting efforts to expand taxpayer-backed library services to the nine percent of Illinois residents who do not receive such services
- Ensuring that libraries are set up in good faith and with the intent to function as a library
- Supporting legislation that enables all school libraries to have employees with school-media certification
- Initiating and backing measures that will increase interconnectivity among Illinois libraries, by giving them a role in cost-efficient planning and implementation of broadband networks
Increasing the Effectiveness of Illinois Libraries
- Developing and backing legislation that has the same effect as legislation targeted at other institutions receiving government funding
- Designing and supporting initiatives that enhance the level of services that Illinois libraries provide to their users
- Backing efforts that improve public access to information and ensure government transparency that is cost-efficient