Stand Up for Libraries
Statement of purpose
Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) members include more
than 2,000 librarians, libraries, library trustees, and friends representing
all types of libraries in Wisconsin. All share a common purpose—to improve and
promote library and information services for the people of Wisconsin. We
believe library services address essential informational, educational,
cultural, and recreational needs for Wisconsin citizens and merit strong
legislative support. Libraries support
literacy and small businesses, help job seekers become taxpayers, enhance
children’s education and are centers of lifelong learning. They are a window to the world for the
elderly, and represent an affordable way for all citizens to seek out the
information they need to lead successful lives.
The service programs that libraries have developed are
models of regional and statewide cooperation.
Public library systems have enabled local libraries to automate their
services, provide high-speed Internet access and provide their customers with
the resources of other libraries from across the state and the nation.
This is a critical year for public libraries. They are facing a budget squeeze from tight
municipal budgets and fewer System & state services because of state budget
cuts. They are also seeing record
increases in usage.
Library supporters need to stand up and tell local and state
governing bodies how important library services are to their communities. There are 4 key issues that should be stressed:
Key issues:
ü Maintain
Local Library Support Local
public libraries are supported primarily through property taxes from municipal
and county sources. Since many local
governments rely heavily on shared revenues from the State, it is important that
cuts to shared revenues be as minimal as possible. We are concerned that if there are significant cuts to shared
revenues, public libraries may take a disproportionate share of many of the
cuts at the local level.
ü Public
Library System Aids: For 30 years,
public library systems such as Winnefox have been models of regional
cooperation; helping libraries share resources in cost-effective ways. Systems give local libraries the support
they need to serve people in their communities. But library system services are in jeopardy because of steadily
decreasing state funding. The result
has been a slow erosion of services when local libraries need them most. Further reductions in system services could
result in higher costs in local library budgets for the same services and
resulting property tax increases.
ü BadgerLink
Funding: Online databases
accessed through the Internet are becoming the reference source of choice for
many of Wisconsin’s citizens. These are
available at any time from any location.
It is far more economical for the state to contract for them, on behalf
of the citizens, than for local libraries to do so independently.
ü State
Contracts: There are some
services that are more economically funded at the state level than by local
libraries acting individually. Among
these are interlibrary loan— which lets libraries borrow materials which may be
of specialized interest—and special services to persons with disabilities.
Stand Up for Libraries Fact
Sheet
Issue: Maintain shared revenue payments to local
governments
For many years Wisconsin has
supported local governments—municipalities and counties—with shared revenue
payments which have helped local governments provide services. These shared revenue payments have helped
balance out inequities between rich and poor parts of the state and have helped
local governments limit property tax increases.
Local public libraries are supported by
municipalities: cities, villages, townships, and counties. Municipalities are in turn funded by
property taxes and shared revenue payments from the state. Since many local governments rely heavily
on these shared revenues, it is important that cuts to this program be as
minimal as possible.
What services are in jeopardy if funding is cut?
Municipalities have been very good at holding costs
down as they provide necessary services to their residents. They have struggled to limit increases in
property taxes. They have cut staff,
eliminated programs, and deferred major purchases and regular maintenance. But they have gone about as far as they can
go. There is very little fat left to cut.
Cuts to shared revenue payments will mean cuts in municipal
services.
Certain services will be seen as important; others
less so. We are concerned that is there
are significant cuts to shared revenues, public libraries may experience a
disproportionate share of many of the cuts at the local level.
What would be the benefit if funding was
increased?
Increased funding of shared revenue payments would
assist local municipalities in their efforts to limit increases in property
taxes. Programs and services could be
reinstated that have been eliminated.
Preventative maintenance projects put on hold could be completed,
therefore saving increased expenses in the future.
Issue: Restore the State’s Fair Share of Support to
Public Library Systems
We support the
Department of Public Instruction’s request for an increase in funding for
public library systems.
Background.
Public
Libraries support literacy and small businesses. They help job seekers become taxpayers. They enhance our children’s education and are centers of lifelong
learning for everyone. They are a
window to the world for the elderly, and represent an affordable way for all
Wisconsin citizens to seek out the information they need to lead successful
lives. But no one library can afford
everything its customers need.
Libraries must cooperate if they wish to provide adequate services to
the public.
Just over 30 years ago the state
made a bargain. If local public
libraries opened their doors to the more than one million citizens of Wisconsin
who had no access to any public library service, then the state would create
and fund regional Public Library Systems to achieve economies of scale and
undertake projects that local libraries couldn’t do alone. This effort has been highly successful. Public Library Systems have enabled local
libraries to automate their services, provide high-speed Internet access and
provide their customers with the resources of other libraries from across the
state and the nation.
The
Wisconsin Legislature agreed to fund Public Library Systems at a level equal to 13% of local library prior-year expenditures. The state has never kept this bargain. Funding for Wisconsin's Public
Library Systems reached a high of 12% in the early
1990s, but is now less than 9% and falling fast. The most recent reduction (for 2003) forced systems to cut such
things as contracts for sharing resources, public access to important online
databases, and highly-trained personnel.
Status.
Wisconsin statutes require that
the Department of Public Instruction request system aids at the promised 13%
level. This request would represent an
increase of more than $15 million over the biennium. Although these dollars are badly needed, the library community
realizes that this level of funding is not currently affordable. Instead, the System Directors and Resource
Library Directors (SRLAAW) agreed to ask for funding restoration to the 2002
level and for an additional 5% for each year of the biennium. This request totals just under $3.6 million
in additional funding for the biennium.
At a time when service demands are growing by double digits annually,
this level of funding would allow Public Library Systems to at least maintain
most of the core services they provide to local libraries for the duration of
the current budget crisis.
Fiscal
Impact.
FY2002-03
base
FY2003-04 request FY2004-05 request
$14,196,700 $15,487,400 $16,261,770
+ $1,290,700 + $2,065,070
Total increase
requested: $3,355,770
What do we get from Winnefox?
Library systems are required to provide certain
services to member libraries. These
include:
·
Technology
and resource sharing planning
·
Electronic
delivery of information and physical delivery of library materials
·
Training
for member library staff and trustees
·
Professional
consultant services
·
Promotion
and support of service to users with special needs
·
Backup
reference, information, and interlibrary loan services from the system resource
library
·
Cooperative
planning with other libraries to ensure the best library service in the future
·
Service
agreements with adjacent library systems
·
Agreements
with member libraries that require them to serve all residents of the system
area on the same basis as local residents
In addition to these
required services, Winnefox provides other, non-mandated, services:
·
Free
graphic arts and printing services
·
Financial
support for the shared WALS catalog/circulation system
·
Marketing
and public relations assistance
·
Continuing
education grants to library directors
·
Computer
hardware & software support and repair
·
Subscription
to reference databases available to residents from their homes, schools, or
offices as well as at the library
·
Enrichment
grants to assist libraries to introduce new services and improve existing ones.
·
Mileage
reimbursement for library staff attending classes and workshops.
·
Connection
with the statewide library delivery service
·
Performers
for Summer Reading Programs
·
Coordination
of rotating audiobook, DVD, and large print collections to supplement local
libraries’ collections.
What services would we lose if funding is cut
further?
Winnefox has already had to cut services to
libraries. Because we eliminated two
positions from the 2003 budget libraries will receive less professional
consulting, support with electronic databases, and other services. We also reduced the Enrichment Grants to
libraries.
If funding is further reduced we will have to cut
more services. Non-mandated services
will be reduced or eliminated, or we may have to charge libraries for their
use. Mandated services may be reduced
to minimum levels.
What would be the benefit if funding was
increased?
Possibilities for expanded services if funding were
increased to the statutory level include:
·
Restoration
of services previously reduced or eliminated – field services consulting
assistance and improved assistance with local web services development.
·
Increased
subscriptions to electronic databases
·
Daily
delivery to member libraries, rather than the current three times a week
·
Reimbursement to libraries for use by residents of other
communities and counties. At this time
libraries are reimbursed only for use by rural residents of their own county.
Stand Up for Libraries Fact
Sheet
Current BadgerLink databases are:
·
EBSCO
magazine index giving access to full text articles in about 3,000 magazines and
indexing for an additional 3,000. In
addition to the general information database there are separate health/medical
and business databases, as well as ones for elementary & middle school aged
students.
·
ProQuest
newspaper index providing access to a dozen Wisconsin newspapers and over 500
regional, national and international publications.
Libraries have been leaders in providing accurate
and current information via the Internet.
But this service comes at a cost.
Database subscriptions are not cheap, especially when access is extended
beyond the library walls into homes, offices, and schools.
The DPI, acting on behalf of libraries statewide,
can provide this service at a fraction of the cost that libraries and school
district contracting individually would have to pay. Both access costs and administrative costs are lower. Local library staff does not have to review
vendor services and bids, negotiate with the vendor, pay invoices, monitor the
vendor’s performance, and arrange for training. The difference in costs between
a single state contract and the sum of hundreds of local contracts is enormous.
What services would we lose if funding is cut?
If funding is not maintained Wisconsin residents may
lose access to these important & popular resources. People of all ages will find it more
difficult to find reliable information on topics of vital importance. Local libraries will have to decide
whether they subscribe locally to these databases. Many will do so and the higher costs will be borne by local
property taxpayers
What would be the benefit if funding was
increased?
Because of the usefulness & popularity of this
service, the DPI would like to add additional resources. Databases being considered include:
Some local libraries that are now subscribing to
these databases would be able to save money by dropping these
subscriptions. The saved money could be
used to provide other services or offset local budget cuts.
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dfm/pb/pdf/combineddins.pdf
Stand Up for Libraries Fact
Sheet
Issue: Maintain & Improve Current Library
Programs by Providing Funding For Statewide
Resource Contracts
WLA supports full funding for the
valuable services provided by these statewide service contracts:
Status
The DPI 2003-2005 budget request
to the Department of Administration does not include an increase for the
contracts.
What services are in jeopardy if funding is
cut?
Interlibrary loan services would be decreased. Users would wait for longer periods for
requested materials. Materials from
some out-of-state libraries would not be available. Children’s librarians would have an increased workload, due to
reduced services from the CCBC. Our
elderly and disabled residents may have to pay for services or might find their
choices restricted.
What would be the benefit if funding was
increased?
Like all of us, these agencies face increased costs for staff, utilities, and supplies. When they do not receive a budget increase it means that something gets cut. Increased funding would allow them to keep pace with inflation.