<div dir="ltr"><div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXellgH6FPIu1pwuRfL2Og3SCaJ6vD1DspApfZs-BCmsRYjcQ7c47oBBlkVaxcj2z-2ezyzTLCM5D0zAp7NaMH-j0Vmx5itGMkc5yYz8g7CpL-MidTycFXQsIS9bbEeW4phJwGaB_w?key=ImF1FtAbEIU-gEH2e38CT_Z7" width="521" height="157" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-e4945133-7fff-8214-e619-7bd6c5a15012"><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Colleagues and friends, </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Weeks ago, SCLA sent letters to both NYS US Senators: Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and the three congressmen whose districts comprise all of Suffolk County: Tom Suozzi, Andrew Garbarino, and Nick LaLota. These letters were a response to President Trump’s executive order that effectively eliminated IMLS funding and urged them to advocate for us, our industry, and the communities/populations we serve. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We are happy to share that Senator Gillibrand has replied to The Association’s letter. Accompanying this statement is a copy of the letter SCLA sent to Senator Gillibrand and her office’s response. Take note that Senator Gillibrand’s letter clearly states that “...libraries play an important role in New York’s educational system and community development.” Though there is more to do, this is a solid recognition of our work and the vital role we have in our communities. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Reaching out to our representatives was a part of our advocacy efforts. SCLA has written a Letter to the Editor of various local publications and The East End Beacon is the first to publish it. Click</span><a href="https://www.eastendbeacon.com/featured-letter-a-call-to-support-local-libraries/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> </span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">here</span></a><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> </span><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">to read it! </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We still urge you, your friends, family, and colleagues to contact all your </span><a href="https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">federal representatives</span></a><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> to ask that they fight back and restore the rule of law by working to ensure that the congressionally appropriated IMLS funds be restored and grant programs be reinstated now, and that the IMLS is funded for years to come. Additionally, for our colleagues in school libraries, Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) provides needed resources for addressing early literacy. Therefore, it's vital that Congress continue funding for IAL.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We know that these are stressful times but we ask that you continue the work you are already doing by staying active in your communities, reaching out to your network of friends and family and asking them to support us by contacting their representatives, and continuously remind everyone that libraries are not luxuries – they are lifelines.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Thank you for your time and attention. We hope you enjoy Senator Gillibrand’s letter. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">On behalf of the Suffolk County Library Association Board, </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Anthony Giansante</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">President </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Suffolk County Library Association</span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><span><div dir="ltr" style="margin-left:0pt" align="left"><table style="border:none;border-collapse:collapse"><colgroup><col width="96"><col width="429"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height:0pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:82px;height:94px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfYgTLhYr_4LMdoLXuHhOY8_Kzfs0re5Q2XldtDfOOtKSkm-urHwSW2IaHe8BJfLLgG_i6vbj35F1pZN7iAfQQ_9ByONEUEaE4hJOhTWHiqOWlDnPvNaehaIHqjyrtWtwMt2TOK2ft2nglf0u3dDkyvxwDi?key=e4BpUktHlZ9qLEbyvNPwUA" width="82" height="94" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></span></span></p></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline">Anthony Giansante (he/him)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline">Head of Emerging Technology</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;vertical-align:baseline"><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">631-725-0049  // </span><a href="http://www.johnjermain.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">www.johnjermain.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">201 Main Street, Sag Harbor NY</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><br></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:27px;height:29px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfRcomXcfJMH03GX44PxH0axCAy7fNDeYU6v7UyBY8QLHufzPn-Y1T_gTemfXpFf2Avk0CVj5HBLkEwyomRg1gWtVwlpwEfmHwDDLdvHA8avFKa1-7H255RvTm3WDkSgyYNdkZtUY7kcTjDPTmRpVUPvNFJ?key=e4BpUktHlZ9qLEbyvNPwUA" width="70.78991596638656" height="29" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@jjmemlib" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:29px;height:29px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfcQnj0qyqxqKSaR3h1HWphIC1hp9g73Ppnq-d3W3cjXSpR4iDU5m9IArhlgTHGc5mjSvFC12nri4fcjpUyKGCQdbvUU-nNaNS3U7ZrPjMUCFTuCrqBj5dKcyA2NuNivvV1zkyPEGj3ECl8lt0nPJ8nuFQ?key=e4BpUktHlZ9qLEbyvNPwUA" width="29" height="29" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></span></span></a><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@johnjermainlibrary" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:29px;height:29px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeWjwUjeZ0KJ3IdFu_pcu2t6O-Sfb_ERpG3B7IBOJn2L33SwN42jgqwvf-ChuUt07BvgxAekGTxX_o6h1sGxrPxTljo4Yuj59wLhMmWuLmLDToJ4e-GSwJcVh_MoV7DfBQrMAIExNkmTe6NArTtPFgf0Y8?key=e4BpUktHlZ9qLEbyvNPwUA" width="29" height="29" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></span></span></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/john-jermain-memorial-library" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:29px;height:29px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdtcnZUSs52_Y5Fy9PHqsS60CdiSBI3Ux8Sq5iXgcor0T_0Jbm_weSnwjIxaVopWBZP9effI6aHgNR2Qf-KA9YbqjOetZMFfWLizemAA5jzqjevxt13NXEpq0_w6jDaWvny9MTFt0KlZswg4iFBwsUfUzA?key=e4BpUktHlZ9qLEbyvNPwUA" width="29" height="29" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></span></span></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jjmlibrary/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:29px;height:29px"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeFZNfJ7xH0xfLZE1J493sil39h8iEjEs1LsiPQtw6jAGPeVs5hyOZJJiHwbxtMRxJE4qsogr5DQOpPy1_1NXEaJ6NOYqTabfUevQcSPeVDqqdWc_Y5ImJsUoDvwWwtswtEAhFuYIPvBNl_gZ-VpgGVnJGo?key=e4BpUktHlZ9qLEbyvNPwUA" width="29" height="29" style="margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px"></span></span></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div></span></div></div></div>