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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">This week, the House and Senate are working to pass an emergency COVID-19 relief package, likely to be the last relief bill before Congress for several months. <br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666"><br>
</span><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666"><a href="http://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/take-action?engagementId=510082&ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAxBhLKiJ71B0vvFfRfd4D3zhaoSIErQidZFCEnIkPfXN-W2wPZs_DCn9Qnm5c24f-Slou0VYM6jHPDivgxrWe3X06TmLKtXsEPrNWHfmFQrU8&lp=0" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155CC">Libraries
need your help now</span></a>.</span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">House and Senate leadership are using the bipartisan "</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666"><a href="https://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/thru?ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAxfCgzxrQz9lbfOGyxXvprbn3Y57d7I2X6oQ046BYe_mZofJDTZG0CW8SMdYX-nVeA2LYHvi7M5bglfgPEieFITGz8jbt-r4G7cOn5ZW2OoQvJZHxJSuAxMqxdb0IDYGmy5kwjKKJboZOUUhzkd3GOLsOsFX9FmCSujz0eekLukn6E4mtXGzCzBsv6oyVJRa3HymVmjjr193s4SMef6oklMA&lp=0" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155CC">COVID
Emergency Relief Framework</span></a>" </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">as a starting point for their negotiations. Introduced last week, the framework includes funding for expanding overall broadband access
and education but provides nothing for America's libraries. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The American Library Association is urging Congress to include direct library broadband and stabilization funding in the relief package. </span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Libraries have stepped up throughout the pandemic to provide critical internet access, despite having to close or reduce services in response to local and state safety concerns. Yet,
with additional broadband funding, libraries could provide even more services to the public via internet hotspots, extending Wi-Fi signals or locating mobile hotspots throughout the community. In addition to broadband funding, funding for libraries and library
workers is critical. Library workers across the country were furloughed or laid off in 2020, and many more are at risk now - just when communities need them the most. The recent rise in infection rates is forcing many libraries to again limit services, and
costs to reopen safely remain high. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The rise in unemployment shows the need for library services, including online job search assistance, resume writing and help applying for unemployment and other public benefits. Direct
library broadband and stabilization funding will allow our libraries to reopen safely and connect our communities to vital resources during this time of crisis.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Can libraries count on you to send an email to your elected officials? </span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666"><a href="http://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/take-action?engagementId=510082&ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAx8BZQZV5Q6Vg_RwT-2u3eGD4kyMggg_6G56y8gRks1s8HGV-yShix4fXXJ7VWnPIPhs8qGRsdFM3GJrvc9--ovHdzcqfl82GEtbAvlYdJBMo&lp=0" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155CC">Take
Action Now</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Tell your legislators to include both broadband and stabilization funding for libraries in the relief package </span><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">today</span></strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Thanks to your swift advocacy back in March, ALA was able to secure crucial emergency funding for libraries within the </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666"><a href="https://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/thru?ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAxMhm-xyqc0YTZfPL5wxddAXUFXmNZhrka1YfLBHLyHKvZBsz0gURUgmQ0GPWv9YlUiM3jAITLtiKcVqWdRlpNkUPDnAal-wxrATweUB4Pf_r9lrXO687TpfVklLaZbsQL80wtVnQ5P3FgYde31wJFLzmCFbfF9SkCR7DnxLRASWKs4gkyoQJAYv_nJgyGF2D5IYhVb3puhv4ML1b7my1L7J7U_bLx2Rng6OzYThKTIAXgDOYbYZ7h2FwAS-E8tP3a&lp=0" target="_blank"><span style="color:#1155CC">CARES
Act</span></a>.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> Libraries need your action again now!</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Thank you,<br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Team</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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