NewsOverCoffee: Nazareth News: PA Senate Bill to Cut Library Funding 53%

Monday, June 01, 2009

PA Senate Bill to Cut Library Funding 53%

Thanks to the Library for forwarding along this information:

LIBRARY SUPPORTERS WE NEED YOUR HELP

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HARRISBURG LEGISLATORS TODAY!

Gov. Rendell’s Proposed 2009-10 State Budget Cuts Library State Aid 5.1%

Senate Bill 850 Proposes to Cut Library State Aid 53%!

The Governor’s 2009-2010 Budget Proposal (H.B. 1416) calls for a 5.1% reduction in funding for Pennsylvania’s libraries. And just when we thought it couldn’t get worse, the State Senate passed S.B. 850 – a proposal that slashes library services by cutting more than 53% of library funding including eliminating the funding for the Power Library a collection of digital research databases. Libraries would have to pay $40,000 to subscribe to these digital resources individually.

Demand for library services is up dramatically during this recession. Libraries all across Pennsylvania are busier than ever before serving people looking for work, families on tight budgets, and retirees grappling with shrinking savings. Budget cuts will reduce library services for the very people who need libraries the most.
Reduced library funding will cost Pennsylvania nearly a million dollars in lost federal library funding under H.B. 1416. Even worse, Pennsylvania’s library users will lose $3.8 million in federal funds if S.B. 850 became law.

The Governor’s budget proposes to cut 5.1% from state support for library services, or $4,790,000, even as the $14 billion Department of Education budget grows overall. Libraries which are part of the Pa Department of Education will receive no increases just more cuts.