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El.:l'CERRITO\ OFFICE OF THE MAYOR William C. Jones, III May I, 2012 The Honorable Edmond G. Brown, Jr. Governor, State of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: Reinstate/ Preserve State Library Funding Dear Governor Brown: Agenda Item No. S(D) On behalf of the residents of the City of El Cerrito, I urge you to reinstate the $15.9 million in funding that was eliminated from the State's FY 2011-2012 Budget and to include a similar amount of funding in the 2012-13 Budget. These funds help support critically needed programs throughout California's 183 public libraries including: • Resource sharing between libraries; • Literacy programs for over 20,000 adults learning to read at their public library; and • The Braille and Talking Library that serves over 17,000 residents and 700 institutions in Northern California who rely on this program for materials and services "So That all May Read" The elimination of these funds jeopardizes an equal amount of federal matching funds, causing an even greater loss to residents of California. If the federally required "Maintenance of Effort" funds are not maintained, the Library Services and Technology Act (LST A) funds will be cut resulting in an additional loss of $25 million in federal funds. Over 1,000,000 California residents use their public libraries each day. As you know, libraries serve as a critical component in connecting communities with learning. A reduction in funding for public libraries can affect access to computers and the Internet for those in our communities who can least afford them, exacerbating the "digital divide." For these many reasons, on behalf of the residents of El' Cerrito, please reinstate, restore and continue this State Library Funding. Thank you. Sincerely, William C. Jones, III Mayor CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Telephone (510) 215-4305 Fax (510) 215-4319 http://www.el-cerrito.org ---PAGE BREAK--- OFFICE OF THE MAYOR William C. Jones, III cc: Honorable Darrell Steinberg Senate President Pro Tempore California State Senate State Capitol, Room 205 Sacramento, CA 95814 Honorable Bob Dutton Senate Minority Leader California State Senate State Capitol, Room 305 Sacramento, CA 95814 Honorable John A. Perez Speaker of the California State Assembly State Capitol, Room 219 Sacramento, CA 95814 Honorable Connie Conway Assembly Republican Leader State Capitol, Room 31 04 Sacramento, CA 95814 Honorable Mark DeSaulnier California State Senate State Capitol, Room 5035 Sacramento, CA 95814 Honorable Loni Hancock California State Senate State Capitol, Room 2082 Sacramento, CA 95814 Honorable Nancy Skinner California State Assembly State Capitol, Agenda Item No. S(D) P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0014 Honorable Susan Bonilla California State Assembly State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0011 Honorable Joan Buchannan California State Assembly State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0015 CITY HALL 10890 San Pablo Avenue, E1 Cerrito, CA 94530 Telephone (51 0) 215-4305 Fax (51 0) 215-4319 http://www.el-cen·ito.org ---PAGE BREAK--- . J li· Agenda Item No. s(Dl~r.: Attachment ~ ·j Aprilll, 2012 Mayor William C. Jones III City Hall 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 Dear Mayor Jones: REC~IVED APR 1'1 2012 City 0f El Cerrito · · The volunteer supporters of the Contra Costa Library have asked the Friends of all the county library branches to request that the Mayors of their communities send a letter to Governor Brown urging him to reinstate library funding that he has cut from his budget. As Chair of Boarq of Directors, Friends of the El Cerrito Library l am writing this letter on behalf of our·Board to request that you write such a·letter;. · , The El Cerrito Library provides essential services to our community-services that no other organization can provide. Restoration o~ tP.e funds Governor Brown has cut would help support critically needed programs throughout California's 183 public libraries. I have included with this letter a draft letter to Governor Brown for your consideration. I have also included a copy of the generic sample letter suggested by the Friends of the Contra Costa ~ounty Library as well as copie.s of the letters sent by the Mayor of Concord and the Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Please let me know if you have any questions. You can reach me at [EMAIL REDACTED] or [PHONE REDACTED]. Thank you for your. consideration. Sincerely, r~aeJI~ Grace MacNeill Chair, Board of Directors Friends of the El Cerrito Library Board Members: Mary Ann Addison Ann Goolsby Marian MacLeod Al Miller Pat Trumbull Charlotte Britton LilyHo Laura Martinengo Liz Siqueira Mildred Dandridge Mary Huang r Lisa Martinengo Nancy Stout