[AAACE-NLA] A message from NCL

[Dale Lipschultz]

Friends and Colleagues,

Like the rest of  you, I've spent the last three days inundated by budget facts and figures and numbed by what all of this means * to the field, to the learners, and in the end, to this country.  When I read Bob Bickerton's op-ed piece I was struck by the similarities of our personal stories. I often write and speak about my grandparents. They came to this country from Russia in the early 1900's. They went to school, they went to work, and they went to the library. They loved this country. For them, it was indeed the land of opportunity * anything was possible in America. But that was then*now we are facing challenges well beyond what we anticipated and certainly beyond what we could have prepared for. 

I've read, and sometime reread, all of the messages posted on the list in the hope that I could synthesize the information and come up with a cogent action plan. At the end of this day, I don't know why I thought this was even possible.

About all that I can share with you is what I do know. Next week, the National Coalition for Literacy is meeting Washington, D.C. On Wednesday, February 16, 2005, NCL members will participate in Public Policy Forum focused on: 
a.	developing national public policy positions that are supported by the Coalition and its members; 
b.	outlining a process for developing a coordinated grass roots advocacy network that addresses national public policy.

That evening, NCL's Board of Directors will convene to discuss organizational policy and our responses and actions to the Policy Forum. On Thursday, February 17, the full membership will gather for NCL's quarterly meeting. 

There is no question that the primary issue will be the President's Budget and NCL's next steps. As we speak, NCL's staff, board, and members are working diligently to gather, synthesize, and disseminate up-to-date and readable information about the budget and next steps. In addition, I can assure you that NCL will address what we can do as an organization in terms of leadership, partnerships, resource development, and information sharing. 

As NCL's President, I will continue to read all of your messages and consider all the options for action. I will also keep you well informed of the Coalition's next steps. I also hope that you will keep me informed. This is the time for coordination and collaboration * if ever there was a time. 

Sincerely,

Dale





Dale Lipschultz
Literacy Officer, Office for Literacy and Outreach Services
American Library Association
50 East Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone:  800-545-2433, ext. 3275
Fax:       312-280-3256
Build Literacy @ Your Library 
www.buildliteracy.org