[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE ``LIBRARIAN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2003'' (LEND Act) TO 
     PROVIDE LOAN FORGIVENESS TO LIBRARIANS IN CRITICAL NEED AREAS

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                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 9, 2003

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, public libraries and schools across this 
nation are experiencing a dire shortage of librarians. To help fill the 
void, I have introduced legislation that will encourage individuals to 
pursue careers as librarians in public schools and libraries in low-
income areas by providing student loan forgiveness.
  The shortage of librarians is attributed to a combination of two 
factors. First, it is difficult to recruit and retain qualified 
librarians in the face of low salaries. Libraries are now in direct 
competition with industries needing workers with librarian skills such 
as those in multimedia technology, database administration, and systems 
analysis.
  Second, an alarming number of librarians are reaching the age of 
retirement. One in four librarians will retire in the next five years. 
Nearly 60 percent of professional librarians will reach the age of 65 
between 2005 and 2019.
  State and local government budgets are tighter than ever and public 
libraries are being closed to save money. For example, Manhattan, 
Brooklyn, and Queens libraries closed their doors two days a week, 
reduced staff and eliminated programs. 67 of New York's 85 libraries 
have reduced services, affecting primarily children. Proposed cuts in 
Ohio nearly led to the closing of two-thirds of the state's 250 public 
libraries; in the end, the legislature chose to provide no state 
funding for the month of July. In Washington State, Seattle's 24 
libraries will close for two weeks as they did last year, in an effort 
to save $1 million in costs. In 2002, branches were closed, hours were 
reduced, a hiring freeze was implemented, programs were eliminated and 
the book budget was cut. 2003 is looking worse. The fact is, Mr. 
Speaker, school libraries have become even more important as the place 
where our children learn outside of the classroom.
  Not just any college graduate can be a school librarian. Specialized 
training is necessary if we are to expect our libraries to be staffed 
by the right people with the right skills. My home state of California 
requires that a school librarian have a media teacher credential in 
addition to the usual teaching credential. The shortage of qualified 
librarians is so serious that many schools are asking teachers to leave 
the classroom to obtain the required training to become school 
librarians. Our schools cannot afford to lose teachers any more than 
they can afford to be without librarians.
  There have been bipartisan efforts to address the critical shortage 
of librarians. The President's FY 2004 budget requested $20 million to 
fund an initiative to recruit and educate librarians for the 21st 
century. This is a good idea, but I also think we can do something 
simple that will also encourage more students to enter and stay in the 
field and serve children and youth in our highest risk schools.
  Current law allows for the cancellation of educational loans for 
several categories of professionals that serve in low-income areas, 
such as teachers for Title I schools, special education, and Head 
Start, as well as members of the armed services, law enforcement 
officers, Peace Corps volunteers, medical technicians and nurses. The 
Librarian Education and Development Act adopts the same incentive for 
our college students to make the choice to train and serve as 
librarians in areas where there are concentrations of children with the 
greatest need for improved educational opportunities.
  Specifically, under my bill, a librarian working full-time in a 
public library that serves a geographic area with combined average of 
40 percent of enrolled students at the poverty level, or in an 
elementary or secondary school library that is eligible for Title I 
assistance would qualify for the following levels of loan cancellation 
based on number of years of service: 15 percent of Perkins in the first 
or second years, 20 percent of Perkins in the third or fourth years, 30 
percent of Perkins in the fifth year, and $5,000 (total) of direct and 
indirect Stafford after five years of service.
  I am honored that the American Library Association supports my bill. 
I've included their letter in the Record.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I 
think it is just as vital to the improvement of our public schools and 
education of our children as legislation the House considered today to 
encourage qualified graduates with increasing debts to enter 
educational fields that are suffering from critical shortages.

                                 American Library Association,

                                     Washington, DC, July 7, 2003.
     Hon. Xavier Becerra,
     Longworth House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Becerra: Thank you very much for 
     offering an amendment to H.R. 438 for Loan Forgiveness for 
     Librarians. This issue is of great concern to school and 
     public libraries as they face devastating shortages of 
     librarians, especially minority librarians.
       As you are aware, over the next five years, 25 percent of 
     currently working librarians will retire and there are too 
     few people going into the profession. This is not for lack of 
     desire, but because professional librarians must have at 
     least one Masters degree and salaries in this field are not 
     commensurate with other professional fields.
       There are a great number of college graduates who desire to 
     be librarians and serve their communities, but the resources 
     aren't available to them. This is especially true in low 
     income communities.
       Your amendment will do a great deal to open up the 
     opportunity for dedicated community members to go to library 
     school. The American Library Association appreciates your 
     continued support for libraries in this country.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Emily Sheketoff,
     Executive Director.

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