Thanks to ALA Inouye, Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations in ALA Washington’s Office, for harvesting relevant items from the vast sea of information. Here’s a partial list of his recent updates:

Upcoming: Next episode of Maryland Library Association’s MLA Conversations, Friday, July 9, 2021 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern (Episode 54). Topic: How the ebook public policy landscape is continuing to change. Panelists are Andrea Berstler, Michael Blackwell, and Alan Inouye.

https://www.facebook.com/MDLib

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1pkAokE91LTMdCFU1EScqKCqEz7oHtjAFiK9tL7p1GKeogg/viewform

Apply for the Emergency Connectivity Fund!

➢ ALA Resources

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/ECF

➢ Library love from the Acting Chairwoman of the FCC Jessica Rosenworcel

https://twitter.com/JRosenworcel/status/1409872727196979203

➢ Our Marijke Visser in the Indianapolis Business Journal talking ECF

https://www.ibj.com/articles/online-outreach

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1410951704254861312

Op-eds on library construction/renovation -- Build America's Libraries Act

Everett (Wash.) Herald: https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-local-libraries-key-infrastructure-for-communities/

Buffalo News: https://buffalonews.com/opinion/another-voice-proposed-federal-legislation-would-benefit-erie-countys-public-libraries/article_b2c06354-ba5f-11eb-acba-3f4fcb1e16fe.html

ALA announces Libraries Build Business coaches. Opportunities for free advice on entrepreneurship programs in public libraries, especially in underrepresented groups/communities.

https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2021/06/ala-announces-libraries-build-business-coaches

Congrats to Jim Neal (ALA Senior Policy Fellow) and Todd Carpenter (Member of ALA Policy Corps) on their appointment to the Library of Congress Copyright Public Modernization Committee.

https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-21-034/library-of-congress-announces-copyright-public-modernization-committee/2021-06-22/

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1407651735661862913

ALA joins Communications Workers of America, National League of Cities, SHLB Coalition, and other groups to urge Congress to provide full funding for broadband to meet local needs for decades to come.

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1410287696703016967

ALA joins other public interest groups to call on President Biden to fill the vacant seat on the FCC immediately.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/demandprogress/letters/Letter-5th-FCC-Commissioner.pdf

Library of Congress announces the 2021 National Book Festival

https://www.loc.gov/events/2021-national-book-festival/about-this-event/

50th anniversary of ebooks -- facts, benefits, and timeline

https://twitter.com/AlanSInouye/status/1411607894940913664

Competition won't solve the digital divide — communities will (The Hill)

https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/560101-competition-wont-solve-the-digital-divide-communities-will