My name is ______, from (town). Thank you to Senator/s ______for taking time out of your/their busy schedules to be here. And a thank you to Senator Rosenberg for setting up these meetings. I'd like to make a few comments about libraries. Let me start with a couple of facts:
First: library usage in Massachusetts has increased over 40% in the last 10 years. In the meantime...Funding for State Aid to Public Libraries which goes directly to each local library, is currently down 11% from its high in 2009 where it was 6 years ago.
For most libraries, State Aid to Public Libraries helps fill the gap between the operating budget and real spending needs. Libraries have the flexibility to use it for any legitimate purpose...such as new computers, books, or even furniture, but some libraries have to use State Aid just to keep the lights on.
As one library director said: “Although this is now a ‘cost of doing business,’ our library does not have a budget line item for these expenses. We would be in technological shambles without state aid.”
So for State Aid to Public Libraries the request is for an increase of $4.5 million dollars; or think of it as – state aid that goes directly to each local public library. ____________
Another priority: Funding for Automated Networks/Technology and Resource Sharing is currently 38% lower than it was back in 2001! For technology! Funding below what it was 14 years ago!
If you asked someone in 2001 if you could run a library without books, the answer would have been, of course not. Today, if you ask someone if you can run a library without technology, the answer is the same: Of course not. Libraries didn't even have websites in 2001, but now they not only have websites, they provide online databases for researchers, down-loadable ebooks, audiobooks, WIFI, digitized newspapers, and much, much more.
Technology has exploded. It's now an expected norm in libraries, but it's become financially difficult for many libraries to even keep up.
Most of line item 9506, Automated Networks/Library Technology and Resource Sharing. goes to the Networks, like (insert network/s name/s). Each of the libraries of the people in this room today pay a membership fee from their local budget to belong to those networks. When state funding decreases to those networks, the technology costs wind up being passed on and have a direct affect on each town's library's budget. Here the request is for an increase of $3.3 million dollars to get that technology line item to where it should be in FY 2016.
With technology exploding, all we are trying to do is play catchup and simply restore what was lost. Unfortunately, after years and years of doing more with less, all you can do with less, is less.
While these may seem like large requests, the reality is that total state library requests are just 0.06% of the State's total budget. More importantly...technology is what helps libraries, those most efficient of institutions, do more with less. In fact, libraries are providing this dramatic 40% explosion in services with fewer staff than they did 10 years ago.
Libraries are an equalizer in the digital age; libraries serve people of every age, income level, location, ethnicity, or physical ability, providing a full range of tools and resources needed to live, learn, govern, and work. Equitable access, intellectual freedom, creating knowledge, diversity, preserving and sharing our cultural heritage, literacy and lifelong learning are core values that serve as the foundation for library programs and services.
As a result, funding libraries provides a return on investment with a direct economic impact. Just one example: Public libraries are one-stop partners where those who are least likely to find help with job hunting from any other source are able to obtain:
· free help with resume preparation, and applying for jobs online
· English as a second language and citizenship classes,
· computer skills training, STEM training, and
· starting with the very young, early literacy education.
The public library addresses growing problems in our society in way that no other agency --is as trusted – or ready to provide in one place.
Last year we made a concerted effort to contact our legislators and prioritize these same two items. It did help. We are not as far down as last year and for that we're truly grateful to our legislators and the work they did on behalf of libraries.
One more thing: While both Local aid and State Aid to Public libraries are a part of the Cherry sheet distributions, they are definitely not one and the same. The two should not be confused.
I have a packet of information with all the numbers: the high, the current funding and the requests, that I will leave with you. I hope you'll find the time to look it over. Thank you for listening.