The testimony provided this morning to the House Appropriations Committee is now available as an archived .rm (RealPlayer required) file.
The library testimony begins at 2:04:02 and ends at 3:35.
The order of presentation on the TSLAC budget is: 2:04 – 2:13 Legislative Budget Board; Auditor’s office 2:13 – 2:27; Agency testimony 2:27 – 3:25.
Dear TexShare Member Libraries:
We’ve heard from a number of libraries regarding H.B. 1 and TexShare funding. All of the TexShare and Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) staff are working hard to address your concerns and reflect our commitment to providing the library community with access to the databases they value most.
· We have funding in place this year to renew the core set of TexShare databases (www.tsl.state.tx.us/texshare/licenseagreementsfy2011.html) through June 30, 2012. The Electronic Information Working Group (EIWG) will meet soon to determine whether we should streamline this core in order to “shore up” our resources for deployment in the next biennium. Please feel free to contact TSLAC (russlene.waukechon@tsl.state.tx.us) or any member of the working group (http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/texshare/databaseworking.html) to discuss your priorities for the database program.
· Our calculations indicate that we will be able to provide a solid core of databases through the next biennium – with subscriptions running through June 30, 2014.
· Member fees will be increased only to a level that is affordable to member libraries and reflects a significant cost savings to them. The Database Cost Sharing Working Group will meet in early February. Please contact TSLAC , Ann Mason, or any member of the working group (http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/texshare/costsharingworking.html) to discuss your concerns regarding cost share.
· TSLAC has submitted a request to the Legislative Budget Board to add state (general revenue) funding of $3.3 million over the biennium to the TexShare database program. This is ranked as the commission’s highest priority. A state funding base for TexShare is vital to the long-term sustainability of the database program. If you are interested in supporting this request or in communicating with the Legislature, the Texas Library Association has resources that can assist you. (www.txla.org)
· We have also received questions regarding the courier service. We are working on funding scenarios for that service. As the situation unfolds, we’ll keep you informed.
· We look forward to continuing our support for the TexShare card program, to which we are fully committed.
Please contact me at any time with your questions and concerns.
Beverley Shirley, Division Director
Library Resource Sharing
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
(512) 463-5433 FAX (512) 936-2306
The first draft of the State's budget proposal for 2012-13 affects every statewide library program.
The proposal:
* Eliminates Loan Star Libraries (direct aid grants to public libraries)
* Eliminates all state funding for TexShare databases (replaces state funding for databases with increased fees to member libraries)
* Eliminates the K-12 Database program
* Eliminates the Library System Negotiated Grants Program (the new competitive grant program started last session for systems)
* Eliminates state funding for consulting services to libraries (program/staff based at the agency)
* Eliminates state funding for state depository program and TRAIL program
* Eliminates state funding for records management (replaces state funding with increased fees)
* Assumes an overall loss of over $8 million in IMLS funds (Note: federal funding is the source of funding for the regional library systems, the TANG program, and interlibrary loan.)
* Eliminates the Technology Allotment at TEA.
This budget shows a 99% decrease in state funding for statewide local library aid programs and a 93% state cut to library resource sharing programs at the State Library. Overall, the agency cuts amount to about a 70% cut in state funds and an all funds reduction about a third of the agency's budget.
From the perspective of investing in communities, helping kids learn, spurring job placement, and maintaining a dynamic infrastructure for research and digital literacy through our libraries, this budget completely fails the people of Texas. The proposed recommendations amount to an abdication of responsibility, vision, and leadership.
For libraries, these recommendations not only potentially destroy almost every facet of critical statewide library services; they speak to a philosophy dismissive of supporting individuals and communities.
While this budget is just the starting point for deliberations, it is a frightening portent of the potential implosion of our state's infrastructure for learning and economic development.
We must not let this stand. It is not just our funding over the next two years that is in danger -- it is the vital understanding of libraries and their role in offering education, providing meaningful and proven support to our economy and institutions of learning, and speaking to a state of vitality.
We need everyone to speak out for libraries. We need every library supporter to inundate their state representative and senator, the Governor, and the Lt. Governor with letters expressing the incredible damage these cuts would cause.We have a long and hard fight ahead of us, but it is one we must undertake.
Here is what you can do...
1) Call your state representative and senator and tell them not to cut library funding. Be prepared to make the case for your library and the impact it has on your community and students.For more information on library programs, see Issues and Taking Action.
2) Develop an awareness campaign within you community. See the "What My Library Means to Me Campaign." Start marshaling your resources and get your army of supporters mobilized for action.
3) Inform people around you -- administrators, community powerbrokers, student groups, PTAs. Show them how they can save state funding for libraries. Ask them to speak and write to elected officials.
4) Participate in Legislative Day. (There is still time to get a hotel room through tomorrow!)
5) Write letters to the editor; contact your local media about library funding.
6) Above all: show up for duty! This is a cause for each and every one of us, regardless of political affiliation. We all want the same thing - a strong Texas with strong libraries. If there was ever a time we needed library supporters to be proactive and aggressive in their support for libraries, THE TIME IS NOW.
Fight for our libraries.
Let's not undo a generation of progress!
Texas Library Association | 3355 Bee Cave Road | Suite 401 | Austin TX
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