Leaving Our Libraries in the Cold - April 2004

The Ithaca Journal
April 2, 2004
Janet Steiner, Library Director, Tompkins County Public Library
Karen Creenan, Executive Director, Finger Lakes Library System

Once again libraries and library systems in New York State will be left out in the budget cold if the Governor's proposal to cut state aid to libraries is not reversed by the Legislature. Cutting $4.4 million in library aid, as the Governor has proposed, will send libraries back to funding levels not seen since 1997-98.

The Finger Lakes Library System and the Tompkins County Public Library join libraries across the state in asking the Legislature to restore the $4.4 million, plus add an additional $9.3 million to the 2004-05 state budget in order to prevent libraries and the 14 million people they serve from entering yet another deep freeze of insufficient funding. Currently, the library community receives less than one tenth of one percent of the state budget, or approximately $89 million. That money is shared by the libraries and library systems in this State which serve millions of our citizens.

The portion of New York State funds that come to TCPL and FLLS supports valuable programs and services and expands the resources available to library users.

• The regional on-line catalog that allows library users to search the collections of thirty one libraries in a five county region, both at their local library and from their home computer is made possible in part by state funding.
  
• Many people borrow titles not available locally from other libraries through the interlibrary loan network paid for by state funding.
  
• Tompkins County Public Library and the Finger Lakes Library System use state funds to add reference, and high demand titles to those purchased with local tax dollars.
  
• On-line databases such as the General Reference Center (Infotrac), Grolier Encyclopedia, and Gale Literature Resource Center help students and others find accurate information.
  
• Those unable to visit the local library because of restricted physical mobility receive library service by mail because of funding from New York state funds.

If the Governor's proposed budget passes, these services and others will be adversely affected. The Finger Lakes Library System and the Tompkins County Public Library are charged by the State Education Department to enhance library service in a five county region. New York State funding for libraries allows us to supplement local library service to citizens of Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga and Tompkins counties. Without sufficient state funding service will suffer. We realize that these are difficult times. But good libraries are more important than ever when times are bad.

Everywhere in New York State, libraries improve lives as librarians go about the business of helping people find the information they need. For students, their school libraries are doorways to a limitless world of information and a means to equalize opportunities for an excellent education. For senior citizens with health issues, parents with young children, business entrepreneurs, and many others, public libraries offer free access to books and learning, both print and electronic. For university students, information and ideas flow through their academic libraries and permit them to pursue advanced study and research.

In fact, it is people who must use the library who will be affected the most. Many people have no other source of accurate and reliable information, have little discretionary income to enhance the education of their children, and cannot afford Internet access. For these citizens, withholding support from the one truly democratic institution reinforces a class divide and perpetuates the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

Without sustained and increased state funding, library services for people in all of New York State will erode. For the millions of library users in New York State, access through libraries to print and electronic resources will be reduced. And as for our cultural heritage, under-funded libraries will bring a period of hibernation when sleep is the order of the day, when ideas are reduced to dreams, and when stories remain untold.