Montana Libraries Legislative Road Show Visiting Sidney September 12th

The Montana Library Association and Trust for Montana Libraries are embarking on a road show across Montana to share information about their legislative agenda.

These events are an opportunity for the library community to facilitate public conversations about two critical issues: securing funding for libraries during the 2023 Montana Legislature and protecting Montanans' right to read.

The Montana Library Association is requesting the reauthorization and increase of per capita state funding to local libraries. The current program is set to end in 2023. Proposed legislation requests an increase from $0.40 to $0.50 per capita for all public and tribal libraries across Montana.

Additionally, libraries seek funding for collaborative library services that benefit all Montanans via public, school, and academic libraries. Services include better access to shared library collections, eBooks, and support for internet access through a hot spot lending program. The proposed legislative ask is $4.8 million.

“These funding requests represent a tremendous opportunity for Montana libraries and have the potential to utterly transform the way that they work,” says Bruce Newell, of the Trust for Montana Libraries. “We want to share this potential with Montanans and demonstrate the value of their investment in library infrastructure.”

In addition to highlighting the impact of these funding opportunities, road show events will also highlight the important role Montana’s libraries play in protecting the freedom to read.

The road show will kick off in Sidney, Montana on September 12, and finish in Great Falls, Montana on October 20. The complete list of dates and locations is below. We look forward to seeing you!

Sidney September 12 5:30-6:30 PM

Kalispell September 29 5:30-6:30 PM

Billings October 5 TBA

Bozeman October 6 5:30-6:30 PM

Hamilton October 19 5:30-6:30 PM

Great Falls October 20 5:30-6:30 PM

For detailed information about 2023 library legislation, please visit https://bit.ly/FundingForMTLibraries.

For more information about the Trust for Montana Libraries, please visit https://www.mtlibrarytrust.org.

 

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