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GIA 2010
By howard | January 29, 2009
Last April, I wrote, “We are all facing another difficult budget year. I know it is of little comfort, but RI is not at all alone. . . .” Little did I know that I would be posting the same message this year, albeit with a little more intensity.
Once again this year, the trouble is nation (world) wide. A recent news release reported, “Forty-one percent of states report declining state funding for U.S. public libraries in fiscal year 2009, according to a survey of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) conducted by the American Library Association (ALA). Twenty percent of these states anticipate an additional reduction in the current fiscal year.” Despite our high ranking in the distressed state milieu, RI state funding for public libraries remains level this year.
I also wrote last year that “. . .in Rhode Island, flat funding of library grants-in-aid coupled with reductions in other state aid to municipalities and local troubles stemming from the general downturn in our economy have upped the downward pressure on local library budgets. In some cases that downward pressure could lead to loss of the state grant-in-aid. Local budget decisionmakers will need to be careful about ensuring continued eligibility for state grants-in-aid. . . .” That, too, has not changed.
The Law does indeed require municipalities to “. . .appropriate from local tax revenues an amount not less than the amount appropriated the previous year from local tax revenues and expended for library operating expenses. . .” (that’s in RIGL: 29-6-3 Eligibility requirements – Municipalities. In case you wish to read it). I have, however, some leeway in applying eligibility criteria; and, knowing the dire straits many cities and towns are in this year, am inclined to consider requests for waivers.
In any waiver request I shall be looking to see that:
1) reductions of the library budget are fair and equitable considering cuts to other municipal services;
2) there has been a serious consideration of what percentage of the municipal budget is represented by library services and how reducing that will help in balancing the budget;
3) that reductions to the funding of library services will not impair the municipality’s ability to meet Minimum Standard for Rhode Island Public Libraries) or to make a case for standards waivers including plans to return to compliance.
A waiver of eligibility requirements is a serious matter. Abrogation of the maintenance of effort has important ramifications for public library services. Most libraries are a very small portion of their municipality’s budget, are already operating very close to the budgetary bone and are experiencing increased demand for their services as the ambient economy declines. Reduction of the municipal library budget not only abandons the responsibility for funding library services (that led the legislature to include a maintenance of effort requirement in the first place) during the year of the cut, but reduces the subsequent years’ requirements by reducing the basis of their calculation. That calls up visions of a downward spiral that would wreak havoc on Rhode Islanders’ ability to get help with a resume, use the Internet find out about education and training opportunities, get reliable health information, watch a movie, read a book; in other words, obtain library service.
Moreover, as public libraries in Rhode Island cooperate massively through resource sharing, interlibrary loan, consolidated services etc., a reduction to any is a reduction to all. Rhode Islanders need only one library card to have access to the materials in all the state’s public libraries. Resource sharing agreements extend that accessibility to materials held by college and university, hospital, school and other libraries as well. By working together, libraries have made an enormous selection of online resources as well as over 10 million books, magazines, DVDs, etc. available to all on a routine basis. The maintenance of effort ensures a certain level of reliability in each library’s contribution to the whole.
Will you be facing money troubles in your library in FY2010? Please email or comment here. Let us know how the funding situation in your city or town is likely to affect library services.
Topics: GIA | 3 Comments »
February 10th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
There are many libraries in my area (Detroit MI) that are being shutdown by the day. There is virtually NO funding for our school programs!
April 14th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
In our city, most of the libraries are being funded by the government. It is strictly observed the Library membership. No Library ID, No Entry. One cannot enjoy the services of public libraries without having a library card/ id. University libraries were also given. If you’re not a part of that university, you’ll be charged for library fee. Libraries owned by private sectors also secure librray card and membership- Mark Williams, college student from Hvidere tænder
February 7th, 2012 at 10:26 am
I’m glad to go over your page. Indeed, government should look into the current situation of the low budget for public libraries. Perhaps, low budget is a problem, but then, this is a good opportunity for the officials to prove their effectiveness as leaders like what has transpired in home appraisal