Grassley staffer visits State Library

James Rice, Washington D.C.-based Legislative Assistant to Senator Charles Grassley, visited the State Library recently to discuss the impact of federal library funds in Iowa.

State Librarian Mary Wegner and Program Director for Library Development Sandy Dixon were pleased to explain how federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds improve library services for Iowans.  For example, the State Library uses federal funds to subsidize the cost of EbscoHost databases for Iowa public and academic libraries.  Other LSTA-funded programs include the Iowa Center for the Book, the Iowa Locator and SILO interlibrary loan programs, the Summer Library Program, Public Library Management classes and other educational offerings for librarians and trustees from the State Library, and the collection and
presentation of statistics from school and public libraries.  

Rice was especially interested in recent state legislation (HF 2792) which reinstates the requirement that all Iowa school districts employ at least one teacher librarian.  Wegner and Dixon explained that the State Library is working with the Department of Education on a committee which will develop standards for school library programs.  LSTA funds will be used to cover the State Library's participation in this committee.