CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY BUDGET TO BE CUT BY 38% The Governors proposed budget will cut the operating cost of the State Library by $35.7 million dollars. This is a 38% cut in funding. There will be no funding for any acquisitions. There will be 60 library staff laid off. This is a major lose, leaving the Library so understaffed that many programs will be cut. Just reshelving materials will become a major problem. Just the impact of the proposed cuts has already cost the Library staff as people have left and not waited to be laid off. To make up for lost funding, the Governor has proposed, 'State Library Service User Fee' will charge patrons for a library cards for using the Library. Earlier researchers were told that fee COULD be as high as $100 a month. The figures I am hearing now are much greater. Remember that this will include Sutro Library. It is part of the State Library system. Even when Sutro is moved to the University, it will still be part of the State Library and be manned by Library Staff. The following is a copy of the Senate Budget Hearing re: California State Library with the details. While everyone expects cuts, this is outrageous. This is our State Library. This will create problems which will take years to rectify. Entire departments could be shut down and moth balled for years. By charging extremely high fees for use of our own State Library, it will put the public's ability to use the library out of reach for thousands. Write the Governor and your State Representatives [Senate and Assembly], today. Governor Gray Davis State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-445-2841 Fax: 916-445-4633 [email protected] ------------------------------ Hearing on Monday, April 28, 2003 - Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 - California State Library. Governor's Proposed Budget includes reductions to a variety of programs administered by the California State Library. Proposed amount includes a total of $61.2 million. $35.7 million is from the General Fund, which he claims is a 38% reductions from 2002 budget. In their breakdown of all cuts it totals 49%[the difference is accounted for by the elimination of two programs]. Background: The Library provides library and information services to the legislative and executive branches of state government, members of the public and California public libraries. They also administer and promote literacy outreach programs develops technological systems to improve resource sharing and enhance access to information and administers the Public Library Foundation [They distribute state funding to support basic services at local libraries, to assist in staffing, maintaining hours of operations, develop and expand literacy programs, purchase books, research materials and bookmobiles.] A. Public Library Foundation funding will be cut by 50% [this funding has been reduced by nearly $20 million dollar since 2000-2001.] B. Civil Liberties Education Program will be eliminated (through trailer Bill language). Initially created as a three year program in 1999, and extended for an additional two years. A grant program to develop and disseminate educational material on the exclusion, forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans. C. Consolidation of English Language Literacy Programs. There are three programs presently, they will be consolidated and cut by $5.3 million. These are funds that go to local libraries. D. Library of California Program will be eliminated. Designed to connect libraries statewide to share information and resources, required. The funds have never been appropriated. E. Transaction-Based Reimbursements to be eliminated. Actually changed from State reimbursement process to a fee-for-services system. This included 'direct loans' - allowing individuals to borrow materials from libraries anywhere in the State. The fee will be $1 per book. 'Indirect loans' or 'interlibrary loans' will be charged $5 per book to cover costs. *F. California State Library - State Operations. The budget will be cut by $4.7 million (35%). Governor believes the proposed 'State Library Service User Fee' will offset $3 million of this cut. Staff notes: the is not likely: 1. Patrons utilizing service for the blind. These services also receive Federal funds which mandates no fee may be charged. 2 A. great percentage of use is by state agencies and departments, if charged the fee would have to be paid by those agencies, amounts to no saving to the State. The Hearing was attended by State Librarian, Kevin Starr, representatives for the blind and several area professional genealogist. While official testimony was taken, the Chair said they did not want testimony from the audience. Although several did get a chance to speak. The proposal will now go to the Floor of the Senate for a vote. The Assembly has already passed their version. *The Library cuts will be implemented IN-HOUSE by the Library. Another item of interest to researchers is a 20% cut in the funding for the California Newspaper Project, but there is funding of $20,510,000. As I recall, most of this funding originally came from a Federal Grant. May 7, 2003---Iris Carter Jones <[email protected]>