COVID-19-Impacted Libraries Seek New (Check) Writers

Shuttered libraries and the many groups that need them are calling on Congress to set aside COVID-19 aid money specifically to help those hard-hit services. 

In a letter to bipartisan House and Senate leadership, the American Library Association joined by dozens of fans including the American Federation of Teachers, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and NTCA-the Rural Broadband Association, and more than 30 others, asked that Congress set aside $2 billion for "fiscal stabilization" for workers and to support distance learning and telework. 

Related: Senate Dems Seek Big E-Rate Boost 

They said that libraries employ almost 370,000 people and generate billions in economic activity annually including buying $4 billion worth of books. They pointed out that 92% of their budget comes from local and state revenues, which have declined dramatically during the COVID-19 crisis. 

They said north of a hundred legislators have already expressed their support for library relief.  

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.