In this issue: State Library Budget Update and Database Riders

I. State Library Budget Update

II. Database Access Riders Update

I. State Library Budget Update

The House Appropriations voted on recommendations from the General Government Subcommittee regarding the State Library budget. While the Committee approved the reinstatement of the 10% cut required of all agencies last fall, it did not approve any increased funding for Loan Star Libraries, the direct aid program for public libraries.

It is now critically important that the Senate recommend an increase for Loan Star Libraries. If the Senate version of the budget contains a recommendation for additional funding for Loan Star Libraries, then the budget Conference Committee (made up of members of both the House and Senate) will have to take up the matter again of the direct aid program later in the session.

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to hear recommendations on the State Library's budget on Tuesday.

URGENT CALL TO ACTION:

Contact your senator as soon as possible and ask support for increased funding for the direct aid program for public libraries in the Texas State Library and Archives Commission budget, which is in Article I.

Tell your senator that the state’s public libraries need additional state support to meet the demand for services from a growing population. An increase in funding for direct grants to public libraries will mean stronger service in communities throughout the state. Be sure to articulate that you are asking for funding that will go directly to public libraries for use to strengthen local service in whatever way is most needed by the local community.

For additional information and talking points, go to http://www.txla.org/html/govt_aff.html and see 80th Legislative Issues or click on http://www.txla.org/html/legis/80/Direct_Aid.pdf.

II. Database Access Riders Update

Rep. Dan Branch and Sen. Judith Zaffirini are sponsoring riders (proposed additions to state agency budgets) to try and secure $2.5 million a year for K-12 database access and $500,000 a year for an increase in TexShare. Since 2003, when the Texas Library Connection was eliminated at the Texas Education Agency, there has been so statewide funding for school library databases. And, the TexShare program is now funded at approximately half of its 2003 level.

The House Appropriations Committee and the State Finance Committee will soon consider these riders. Please note that new riders (such as these) are considered after initial examination of agencies’ own budget requests. As put forward, the Branch and Zaffirini riders give state legislators an option for how to fund K-12 database access—either through the Texas Education Agency or the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Either agency can support such a program—we just need the funding to be approved!

The riders being proposed for the State Library and Archives Commission request an additional $500,000 per year for TexShare, which now serves public and academic libraries. So, the total rider amount for the State Library is $3 million.

BOTTOM LINE—WHAT WE WANT

TLA's overall message to the legislators is that all libraries need equalized and improved access to digital resources. We need $2.5 million per year for K-12 database access in either the State Library or TEA budget; AND, we need $500,000 per year for TexShare in the State Library and Archives Commission budget.

CALL TO ACTION: Contact your elected officials this week!

Contact your state representative and urge him/her to support Rep. Branch’s riders in both the TEA budget and the State Library and Archives Commission budget. Contact your state senator and urge support of Sen. Zaffirini’s riders in both the TEA budget and the State Library budget. If your representative serves on the House Appropriations Committee or your senator serves on the Senate Finance Committee, it is critically important that you contact their office and let them know about the need for state funding for library online resources.

Explain the importance of online databases for students and the public. For additional information and talking points, go to http://www.txla.org/html/govt_aff.html and see 80th Legislative Issues or click on http://www.txla.org/html/legis/80/database_access.pdf.

Members of the Legislative Budget Committees

To contact members, click on the URL for an online email form or for phone and fax numbers.

House Appropriations Members:

Rep. Warren Chisum  -- Chairman (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist88/chisum.htm)

Rep. Ryan Guillen – Vice Chairman (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist31/guillen.htm)

Rep. Alma Allen  (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist131/allen.htm)

Rep. Dan Branch –(http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist108/branch.htm)

Rep. Betty Brown –  (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist4/brown.htm)

Rep. Fred Brown – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist14/brown.htm)

Rep. Norma Chavez –(http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist76/chavez.htm)

Rep. Myra Crownover – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist64/crownover.htm)

Rep. Drew Darby – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist72/darby.htm)

Rep. John Davis – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist129/davis.htm)

Rep. Dawnna Dukes – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist46/dukes.htm)

Rep. Kirk England – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist106/england.htm)

Rep. Dan Gattis – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist20/gattis.htm)

Rep. Linda Harper-Brown – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist105/harper-brown.htm)

Rep. Chuck Hopson – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist11/hopson.htm)

Rep. Carl Isett – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist84/isett.htm)

Rep. Jim Jackson – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist115/jackson.htm)

Rep. Lois W. Kolkhorst – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist13/kolkhorst.htm)

Rep. Eddie Lucio III –( http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist38/lucio.htm)

Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist120/mcclendon.htm)

Rep. Jim McReynolds – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist12/mcreynolds.htm)

Rep. Jose Menendez –( http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist124/menendez.htm)

Rep. Rick Noriega –( http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist145/noriega.htm)

Rep. John Otto – - (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist18/otto.htm)

Rep. Debbie Riddle - (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist150/riddle.htm)

Rep. Larry Taylor – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist24/taylor.htm)

Rep. Sylvester Turner –( http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist139/turner.htm)

Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist130/arsdale.htm)

Rep. John Zerwas – (http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist28/zerwas.htm)

Senate Finance

Sen. Steve Ogden – Chair (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist5/dist5.htm)

Sen. Judith Zaffirini – Vice Chair (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist21/dist21.htm)

Sen. Kip Averitt – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist22/dist22.htm)

Sen. Bob Deuell – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist2/dist2.htm)

Sen. Robert Duncan – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist28/dist28.htm)

Sen. Kevin Eltife – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist1/dist1.htm)

Sen. Troy Fraser – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist24/dist24.htm)

Sen. Juan Hinojosa – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist20/dist20.htm)

Sen. Kyle Janek – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist17/dist17.htm)

Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist27/dist27.htm)

Sen. Jane Nelson – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist12/dist12.htm)

Sen. Florence Shapiro  -- (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist8/dist8.htm)   

Sen. Royce West – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist23/dist23.htm)

Sen. John Whitmire – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist15/dist15.htm)

Sen. Tommy Williams – (http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist4/dist4.htm)

To find out who represents you, go to: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/.