State Aid for Library Systems - Reduced Again!

The Governor has released his 2005-2006 Executive Budget. The Governor has proposed flat funding of $84.442 million for library aid this year, which keeps the 5% cut from last year (down from $88.9 million in 2003).

What does this mean for SENYLRC? Another reduction of about $42,000 across SENYLRC’s five program areas:

• Regional Automation (RBDB) is reduced $11,259
• The Hospital Program reduced by $5,426
• The Medical Information Services Program (access to medical and consumer health information) is reduced by $2,054
• The academic Coordinated Collection Development Aid Program will realize a cut of $5,328, and finally,
• SENYLRC’s General operating Aid is being reduced by $17,628.

Add these reductions to the same amount of reductions in this current year (as the legislature failed to take action in December to restore these cuts), totals $84,000 in cuts over a two year period. As of this writing, SENYLRC projects a general operating budget deficit for the upcoming new fiscal year (July 2005-June 2006) to be approximately $29,000. The cash reserve simply cannot handle this large of a deficit. This projection is requiring the Board to look at a combination of alternative revenue sources and possible service reductions.

Here is an example of some of the service impacts:

• Considerable less RBDB subsidy for electronic resources
• Less in moneys to fund technology-related continuing education workshops
• A noticeable reduction in hospital service program moneys to subsidize medical electronic resources and the probable elimination of individual grants to the hospital libraries
• Over $5,000 less in collection development aid grants to academic libraries

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

You can help not only SENYLRC, but the public and school library systems in this region. Consider the following from Kathy Miller, Chair of the New York Library Association Legislative Committee:

It is just two weeks until NYLA Lobby Day – March 15. Hundreds of library advocates will be arriving in Albany to talk one-on-one with their legislators about library funding. I hope you will join us!

You can register for Lobby Day online on NYLA’s website at:
www.nyla.org. You also can encourage patrons to go to LobbyNet (http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=925) and send a fax to their legislators and the Governor, and – ***NEW*** – write a library testimonial. Testimonials will be used to help NYLA tell the library story.

NYLA’s MESSAGE – RESTORE THE CUTS
NYLA’s message is simple – 7 plus 10 -- $7 million to restore funding cut by the Governor in his current budget and to implement the 2000 census, and $10 million to make up for years of flat funding and cuts last year.

It may seem like an uphill battle, but the fight to restore funding is one we CAN win. Remember the 15% cut proposed two years ago? Library supporters voiced their opposition, and legislators listened.

Yes, a 5% cut is more insidious. Can’t we all cut back by 5%, some might ask? But the 5% cut this year is on top of a 5% cut LAST year, and FLAT funding since 1998. We are all very aware of how costs have gone up -- heat, rent, lights, health insurance, retirement, salaries (maybe), and postage -- can we think of ANYTHING that has NOT gone up in price?

Library Systems (which receive the bulk of the State Aid) are facing these same increases in expenses, but with no consequent increase in funding.

Legislators DO understand this. We just need to keep reminding them.

YOUR SUPPORT NEEDED
Please plan on attending NYLA Lobby Day on March 15 to let your legislators know how you rely on library services provided through state funding. NYLA has a list of Regional Coordinators who can help you frame the issues, and lead the discussion with legislators. Coordinators will also be making appointments. The coordinators for this region are:

Mid-Hudson L S Rebekka Smith 845-471-6060 x39 rsmith@midhudson.org
Ramapo Catskill LS Carol Cleveland 845-343-1131 x242 carolc@rcls.org

By John Shaloiko, Executive Director

Southeastern News Online is published bi-monthly by SENYLRC staff.