This week, April 10-16, 2005, is National Library Week. This week we celebrate the vital resource every community relies on, the library, whether it is the public library, school library, or college library, it provides an information hub for all to use. Libraries are a key part of our communities and can provide many useful resources for patrons. Libraries can offer many services including resume development training, literacy classes, mentoring programs, free internet access, workshops on career building information and resource aid to small businesses in addition to their collection of literature.

I recently urged the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations to support President Bush's $221.33 million request for the Library Services and Technology Act while asking for an additional $100 million to go to the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (ILSTL) program. By supporting these two requests I hope to increase the level of service libraries can offer.

In the interest of closing the digital divide, many of our libraries allow free and easy access to the internet. Thomas Friedman in the New York Times quotes Thomas Bleha in the May-June issue of Foreign Affairs as saying, "In the first three years of the Bush administration, the U.S. dropped from 4th to 13th place in global rankings of broadband Internet usage... nearly all Japanese have access to ‘high-speed' broadband, with an average connection time 16 times faster than in the U.S." I have strongly advocated the E-rate program which gives rural libraries and schools the access to the Internet through broadband lines at reduced costs. By improving the access and technology in our libraries, rural citizens and businesses have greater access to the same tools that a resident in a major city has. By leveling the technological playing field for rural businesses, they will have a chance to compete at the same level as businesses in urban areas.

In the rural communities the library may be the only broadband access point available for some people. Without the assistance of the E-rate program some libraries would have to make cuts in the budget for staff and materials in order to offer the internet. The E-rate program allows the libraries to continue to function with normal budgets while still providing the necessary internet needs for its patrons. As the advent of wireless technology becomes more widespread local libraries could become a pioneer of wireless hotspots in rural communities. As many college libraries already offer wireless hotspots, the community libraries in rural southern West Virginia could follow suit, forging the way for others to follow. The E-rate program gives libraries the option to provide this new service while still maintaining their current budgets. Individual users will be able to bring their personal laptops to the libraries to do their work on broadband wireless access.

Our school libraries need assistance as well. Studies across the nation have shown that schools which maintain strong library media programs impact the students' academic performances. One solution to ensuring that our school libraries are adequately funded is to approve the $100 million fund for the ILSTL program. With the assistance of this program our children will have access to many more resources.

My focus has always been to create jobs for and improve the lives of the people of southern West Virginia. By providing our local libraries with the resources they need to provide adequate service to their patrons, I want to make sure the people in southern West Virginia have the same access to tools that those in major metropolitan areas have. Our libraries are too important to leave them stranded, along with the communities they serve, on the wrong side of the digital divide