CALL TO ACTION:
FINAL PUSH FOR LIBRARY FUNDING
Your action is critical.
The next couple of weeks will determine final funding for library programs for
the next two years!
In this issue:
Conference
Committee Appointed
The budget Conference Committee members have now been appointed in the House
and the Senate. The Conference Committee will craft a final version of the
state’s biennial budget based on reconciling differences in the House and
Senate versions. The committee will begin meeting this week and will work
until a final budget is proposed.
The Conference Committee members are:
SENATE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LIBRARY
PROGRAMS
-
Texas State Library and Archives Commission base budget: The Senate version
restores the 5% cut made to the agency’s base budget. This budget
recommendation would allow the Loan Star Libraries grant program for public
libraries, as well as the Public Library Systems program, to remain funding
at the current level. Total amount: approximately $745,000 per year.
-
TexShare: The Senate made no recommendation for increased funding.
-
School library database access: The Senate made no recommendation for school
database access.
HOUSE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS
-
Texas State Library and Archives Commission base budget: The House
version DOES NOT restore the 5% cut.
-
Addition of $2 million per year for TexShare. This item is NOT
included in the recommended base budget for the Texas State Library and
Archives Commission, but it is added as an auxiliary request for funding in
Article XI. This recommendation does not carry the same weight at a fiscal
recommendation made in the agency’s overall budget, but it is an item that
is eligible for consideration should sufficient money be identified.
This item would allow all public libraries as well as those in institutions
of higher education to get access to the same breadth of online resources as
are now available. Without this funding, access will be substantively
reduced, particularly in the areas of health information and resources for
younger ages.
-
Funding of $4.3 million per year for school database access. This
item is NOT included in the recommended base budget for the Texas State
Library and Archives Commission, but it is added as an auxiliary request for
funding in Article XI. This funding can be enacted if enabling legislation
(HB 661/ SB 483) pass and if the budget committee determines to appropriate
funds for the program. This item would allow the State Library to fund
database access at school libraries. Currently, the State Library cannot pay
for this additional access. The funds will be used to provide K-12 students
with database (TexShare) access at their school libraries.
WHAT WE NEED
-
Restoration of the 5% base budget cut (as per Senate recommendation)
-
Addition of $2 million per year for TexShare (as per House recommendation in
Article XI)
-
Appropriate funding of $4.3 million per year for school database access (as
per contingency rider found in Article XI of House bill, tied to HB 661/SB
483)
CALL TO ACTION
-
All library supporters are urged to contact their senator and
representative. If either serves on the Conference Committee ask them to
work with their colleagues to appropriate funding for libraries (as
described above in “What We Need”). If your senator or representative is not
on the Conference Committee, ask them to contact their colleagues on the
Conference Committee to ask for support of library funding (as described
above).
-
All library supporters are urged to contact all members of the Conference
Committee and ask them to appropriate funds for library programs (as
described above in “What We Need”).
-
Contact the Speaker of the House (Tom Craddick), the Lt. Governor (David
Dewhurst), and Governor Rick Perry and ask for support of library funding.
-
Get others to contact these lawmakers in support of library funding!
WHAT TO SAY
Be sure to specify the program and the request for funds you are advocating.
See “What We Need.”
Describe the local impact of this funding for your library and how your
library users rely on library resources.
