Two associations representing independent booksellers and software providers have joined a new coalition to preserve federal funding for public libraries, which the Trump administration has proposed cutting.

The American Booksellers Association and the Software & Information Industry Association are both members of the Corporate Committee for Library Investment. The coalition sent a letter to all U.S. senators May 17 asking them to maintain funding for two federal programs that help public and school libraries purchase equipment and educational materials.

CCLI consists of the two associations and 24 publishers, software developers and other business that sell products and services to libraries. The group formed in response to the Trump administration's effort to eliminate most federal funding for libraries, according to ABA. Members are seeking $186.6 million for the federal Library Services and Technology Act and $27 million for the Innovative Literacy program.

"LSTA funding goes almost entirely to a population-based matching grant program that puts states in charge of how funds are spent," the coalition said in the letter. "IAL allows school libraries to buy books and educational materials for the nation's neediest children."

While the group's members admitted they have an economic interest in seeing the programs continued, they also offered three other reasons for continuing funding:

• Libraries build strong workforces and strong economies in communities.

• State libraries leverage taxpayer dollars by using LSTA funds to purchase or contract for electronic materials that they make available to every individual library in their states, thus realizing efficiencies and economies of scale.

• Public universities garner billions in private industry grants for research and development to which LSTA-funded electronic online resources are vital.

"The bottom line, literally and figuratively, is that the health of our businesses, our workers and all of our communities is inextricably linked to the health of libraries and their continued federal funding," the coalition said. http://bit.ly/2rtSJyj

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