ALA Council Supports Universal Healthcare

July 15, 2009

With healthcare costs eating up chunks of shrinking library budgets across the country, the ALA Council during its last meeting in Chicago  overwhelmingly passed a resolution supporting affordable, universal healthcare, including the option of a single-payer healthcare program. This is essentially a reaffirmation of a resolution adopted by ALA in June 2006. ALA policy states that "ALA recognizes the importance of comprehensive healthcare for all Americans and its impact on libraries and their users." ALA joined the Universal Health Care Action Network in 2005 and the following year endorsed "expanded Medicare for all," calling for a single-payer, universal healthcare program. Citing the rising cost of providing health insurance and the burden it places on state and local governments, the Council noted that it has become increasingly difficult for them to adequately fund libraries and schools. The Council document notes that 46 million people in the United States have no health insurance. "Without good health, humankind cannot truly exercise intellectual freedom and civic engagement."

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