Congress has an upcoming deadline to pass federal funding for fiscal year 2023. Thanks in part to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the Senate’s version of the Improving Library and Museum Facilities bill includes $20 million of new funding to renovate libraries and museums, especially in rural and underserved communities.
You can imagine how helpful this money would be to Alaskans. For example, the Tok Community Library, totally operated by volunteers without city, borough or village support, works hard to serve Tok residents in a tiny space. They bought land and made plans to build a new building, but grant money dried up before they could start construction. A bigger building could house groups for children’s programs, and room for comfortable chairs for adults to sit and enjoy reading or use the library’s Wi-Fi. A toilet and running water for a reading room/coffee shop would add even more services to the community. Federal money could make Tok’s library dream a reality.
Thank you to Sen. Murkowski and Rep. Mary Peltola for supporting this bill. We hope that their congressional colleagues will join them so libraries can continue to serve our kids, our families and our communities.
— Lynn Lovegreen
Anchorage
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