NewsDesk: Budget Issues, Ebooks, Copyright, and More

News highlights from LJ's continuing online coverage

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Losing Libraries, Saving Libraries

Sometimes we have to know what is at risk before we can engage in saving it. The website www.losinglibraries.org was designed to capture stories from across the nation to create a snapshot of library cuts

Las Vegas/Clark County Library District Cuts Hours, Staff

Five years of raises mandated in contractUnion did not set up meeting on concessions42 employees laid offThe Las Vegas/Clark County Library District (LVCCLD), NV, faced with a $5.5 million shortfall over the next fiscal year, More...

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Closes Three Branches, Prepares for More

Now 24 locations, it could be 20, or eightTermination costs could hit $4 millionWaiting to see if county, municipalities respondThe Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, faced with a recommended $17.7 million county contribution for FY 011-a nearly More...

Portland Public Library, ME, To Close Two Branches, Revamp Service Model

Six locations too many for 63,000 people compared to peer librariesFlat budget for three yearsBeyond the bookmobile to mobile services andnew spacesFaced with three years of flat funding and the closure of two of five More...

Lexington Public Library, KY, Cuts Positions, Freezes Pay

Salary freeze; part-timers lose hoursOverdue fines go up30 positions lost over two yearsFacing flat revenue and $838,000 in increasing costs, the Lexington Public Library, KY, Board of Trustees has passed a $13.9 million budget for More...

Troy Public Library, MI, Scheduled To Close July 2011

Severe cutbacks for upcoming fiscal yearAward-winning library in relatively affluent cityFriends to plan for another millage in NovemberThe Troy Public Library, MI, which serves a city of 80,000, will close its doors on June 30, More...

Indianapolis Library Branches Unlikely To Close

$3 million loss must be made upBacklash against spending on arenaCommenters support library,butshow ignorance about operationsIn April, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (IMCPL) Board of Trustees said it was considering closing four to six branches More...

86% of Ohio Levies Pass, Including Akron Renewal

State aid was cut last yearMost first-time levies succeedLosers must reduce servicesOhio citizens demonstrated their support of libraries yesterday, as 86 percent of library levies passed. Out of the 29 initiatives, 25 were successful; 18 More...

Los Angeles Public Library Faces "Devastating" Budget Proposal

Seven-day servicealready reduced in AprilUnion, advocates, library leaders argue against cutsCap on retirements would mean young librarians get laid offLos Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has proposed what seems to be a stable budget for the More...

After Months of Lobbying, Florida Legislators Restore Library Aid

Library aid almost axed last year60,000 messages in six weeksAlliance with counties also helped Riding a legislative roller-coaster similar to that in 2009, Florida library advocates have successfully staved off proposals to eliminate Florida's State More...

If State Legislators Have Their Way, Boston Public Library Branches Won't Close

The board of the Boston Public Library, as LJ reported earlier this month, has decided to close four branches to cope with budget deficits largely caused by a decline in state aid. Now, however, some More...

Libraries in NYC Protest Proposed Massive Budget Cuts

$82 million over two yearsHours could be cut nearly in halfPotential closingsHundreds of layoffsBudget endgame hasn't yet arrivedFor libraries in New York City, it's waiting time, as potentially devastating cuts in Mayor Mike Bloomberg's proposed More...

PLA 2010 Conference: Tough Decisions in Tough Times

No silver bulletGive elected officials opportunities to shineFoundations may helpWhat's the best way to ensure public support for a library? Consistent advocacy, in good times and bad, according to Tom Galante, CEO of the Queens More...

Rural Library Services Get $7.2 Million in Stimulus Funds

Part of $193 million via USDA$2.6 million for library in North Carolina$1.5 million for library in TennesseeLibrary services in rural communities will receive more than $7.2 million in loans and grants, thanks to stimulus funding More...

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Prepares for Greater Than 50% Budget Cut

Library recently absorbed mid-year cutThree scenarios for FY11Budget will be decided in JuneNext year may be much, much tougher for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC, which could see its budget cut by more than half, More...

From Pole to Pole at PLA

What a split personality of a PLA! Those of us from LJ who attended the Public Library Association conference in late March in Portland, OR, ricocheted from news about budget cuts, layoffs, and shortened hours More...

Houston PL Cuts Service Hours by 28 Percent

Materials cut six percent42 positions to remain unfilledWeekend hours especially affectedNext year could be much worseHouston Public Library (HPL) will implement substantial service cuts beginning April 17, as it must reduce its current Fiscal Year More...

Ohio PLs Place Operating Levies on May Ballots

Save Ohio Libraries acts as levy clearinghouseSophisticated advocacy effortsMore first-time levies emergeSince state support for Ohio's public libraries was cut 30 percent this last summer, many library systems have launched local levy efforts for operational More...

Updated: Boston Public Library Board Agrees To Close Four Branches

Scenarios summarizedBump of one percent in city fundingDecision now goes to MayorUpdated April 9: The Boston Public Library Board of Trustees hasendorsed the plan to close four branches. Updated April 12: Sam Allis, columnist for More...

More Branch Closures Possible in Indianapolis and Portland, ME

The municipal budget proposed for the fiscal year starting July 1 recommends the closure of three branches among six locations (five branches plus main library) of the Portland Public Library, ME, according to the Portland More...

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Has More of a Cushion, Audit Suggests

Audit requested by funding agencyWill be considered by task forceStill, major funding needs for capital projects remainThe Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) may be in better shape than it professes, according to an audit report More...

NEH Grants Funds for Library Exhibitions, Programs, Digitization

Programs on reading and classicsLincoln at the librariesDigitization and preservationLibraries are getting a small slice of the recently announced $16 million in grant awardsfrom the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which is funding 286 More...

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Will Keep Branches Open but Cut Hours, Pay

All branches open eight hours a day for five daysFewer job lossesRemaining staffers face 5-20% pay cutA week after announcing that they had no choice but close branches in the wake of a $2 million More...

Brooklyn Surfs Giving-by-SMS Trend; Mosio Launches Mobile Donations Initiative

Brooklyn asking for $10 via textUses mGive, which raised $40M for HaitiMosio aims to link libraries and firms that can helpThe recent earthquake in Haiti proved that the time had come for donations via text More...

PushbackAgainst Proposed Cuts in NJ and FL, Planned Closures in Charlotte Area

Major planned cuts in state funding for libraries in New Jersey and Florida, and a closure of half the branches in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC, are being met with spirited resistance. After the Public More...

A Year Later, Florida Legislators Again Try To Axe Aid to Public Libraries

State funding cut by one-third since 2001Branches would closePossibility for funding to be restored in committeeIn big red letters on its web site, the Florida Library Association (FLA) warns, "We Have Another State Aid to More...

NJ Proposes 74% Cuts in State Library Aid,State Library Faces Merger

Database initiative would be axedCuts hit libraries disproportionatelyBroadband funds jeopardized For FY 2011, the state of New Jerseyhas proposed a drastic cut of74% in library program funding from the FY 2010 appropriation, which State Librarian More...

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library To Close Half Its Branches, Lay Off 140

Worst situation since the Great DepressionFour criteria for closingsNext year's cut may be even greaterFaced with cutting $2 million from its budget within the last three months of the current fiscal year, the Public Library More...

Voters Step Up: Library Referenda 2009

Despite the grim economic circumstances in 2009, voters delivered an overwhelming vote of confidence to their local libraries. In fact, 84 percent of all operating referenda passed nationwide.Just a few of the successes: in Michigan, More...

San Jose PL Could Lose 35% of Budget, Lay Off More than 100 Staff

Service point staff cut in halfTwo new branches would still openBranch Friends groups uniting for actionDecision will be made in JuneSan Jose Public Library (SJPL), CA, the 2004 Gale/LJ Library of the Year,is the latest More...

For Los Angeles Residents, an Interactive Survey Precedes Budget Balancing

Visitors to the Los Angeles Public Library's (LAPL) web site are invited to take the Los Angeles Budget Challenge, a city-produced interactive survey that encourages visitors to rank potential changes in the budget of various More...

TN State Library Cuts Ameliorated by Federal Stimulus Funds

Go back to the Academic Newswirefor more storiesProposed budget cut nine percentThree out of12 regional offices closed; staff maintained for one yearFederal funds provide one-year opportunity for retoolingThe Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has More...

Phoenix Public Library Branches Won't Close, After All

2% food tax passed3.2% employee concessionsBranches will close one day each weekA month after plans surfaced to close six of 15 Phoenix Public Library branches and cut 73.5 positions, a much less onerous solution has More...

Evanston PL Begins New Fiscal Year with Branches Intact

Citizens must come up with funds after six monthsTwo part-time branches will cost $164,000BranchLove formed to organize volunteers, fundraisingMarch 1 began a new fiscal year for Evanston Public Library (EPL), one that still includes two More...

ALA: Broadband Funds Awarded, Lessons Learned, Second Round Open

Time to apply is nowWisconsin award even helps libraries already with broadbandLessons include collaboration, budgetingAs the application window opened for the second and final round of federal broadband stimulus funds, the American Library Association has More...

Boston PL May Close Ten (of 26) Branches or Slash Hours at 18

State aid once was 18.3% of budgetBoard seems to prefer closing buildings to decimating hoursNewspaper criticizes board for lack of cloutAfter absorbing a major decline in state aid this year and expecting further cuts next More...

Cranston, RI, Library Gets Chinese Collection Thanks to University of Rhode Island

Materials in English and MandarinBooks and DVDsLIS graduate student also will be part of collaborationIn an unusual example of collaboration between a local university and a public library, the Cranston Public Library, RI, will be More...

Cuts in Hours Announced at New York City Library Systems

Mid-year cut and proposed cut next yearNYPL branches to average 45 hours open, down from 51Queens Library cut hours in JanuaryNew York City Major Mike Bloomberg's announced library budget cut-a "gap closing" for the current More...

Phoenix Public Library Faces 21.4% Budget Cut; Six of 15 Branches Would Close

73.5 positions would be lostPublic safety departments cut 11% to 14.1%Closing libraries has public safety impact, some saySix of 15 Phoenix Public Library branches would be closedand 73.5 positions cut under what city officials call More...

NYC Mayor Orders Budget Cuts, with Major Hit to Libraries

Layoffs disproportionateToo soon to estimate impactCity Council often restores budget cutsNew York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has proposed sweeping budget cuts to close a $4.9 billion deficit for FY 2011 with no tax increases. Libraries More...

Fundraising in the Downturn: Library Budgets 2010

With the recession, library budgets have been hit hard just as demand keeps climbing, a paradox that creates a resource gap for even the best-off libraries. In their stories, Norman Oder crunches the numbers from More...

Permanent Shift?: Library Budgets 2010

It's no surprise that libraries in LJ's annual budget survey reported an overall downward trend, with the expected decline in total budgets some 2.6% and the change in materials budgets 3.5% (see Table 1, below). More...

When Service Matters: Library Budgets 2010

Most mornings, Terry Ann Lawler arrives at the Palo Verde Library, a branch of Phoenix Public Library, to find a line of over 50 adults waiting for the building to open. She and her staff More...

After State Supreme Court Rejects Property Tax Timing, Central Arkansas Library Faces 10% Cut

$1.5 million must be cutNo raises for staffers earning over $30,00014% materials cutHiring freezeWhile a lot of libraries have faced budget pressures, the Central Arkansas Library System, Little Rock, which faces a 10% budget cut More...

With Huge Demand for Computer Centers, ALA Asks Feds To Reallocate Stimulus Funds

ALA joined by ARL, community collegesMoney could be reallocated from mapping projectIncrease would serve public access, broader economic goalsGiven the huge demand for the Public Computer Centers (PCC) program in thebroadband segment of the federal More...

NEH Grants Support Library Construction, Preservation, Training

OR public library gets $300K for humanitiesportion of new libraryLincon traveling exhibit will go to more librariesDigging into Data Challenge boosts digital libraryPublic and academic libraries willreceive a slice of the $20 million in grants More...

First Round of Broadband Stimulus Funds Announced, Three Awards to Libraries

More grants announced over 75 daysBoston Public Library, state libraries in AZ, NM get grantsBig focus on extending connections; one "Middle Mile" award includes librariesThe first of many broadband stimulus funds awards have been announced, More...

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Backs Off Branch Closing Plan

City funding, plus new state legislation on casino revenueNew fines and feesConcern over closed board meetingsAs washinted last month, the board of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) yesterday postponed for a year a plan More...

In Arizona, a Stunning New Library and Staff on Loan

For new staffers, "Library 101"Loss of development feesNew virtual interactive roomThe new Prescott Valley Public Library, AZ, which opened in October, is such a stunner that it won an 'On the Boards'; award for design More...

Cuts in MA Library Aid, Possible Closing of State Library Generate Protests

Petition protests State Library closureCuts in state aid around 30%More cuts comingLibrary use is upNearly 3500 people have signed a petition protesting the possible closure of the Massachusetts State Library, part of Governor Deval Patrick's More...

California City of Colton Closes Library Indefinitely (Updated)

Newspaper report: libraries closed for rest of fiscal yearLibrary message: libraries closed "until further notice"ALA president criticizes decisionUpdated November 18: American Library Association (ALA) President Camila Alire issued a statement: "How can Colton combat the More...

Proposed Budget Cuts in Seattle, Denver Are Partly Restored

Seattle city council restores library hoursDenver branch safe for another yearDwindling sales tax revenue affects SalinasSeveral public libraries are receiving budget adjustments that help or hurt. Below are updates on several library systems facing difficult More...

In Sonoma County, CA, a Ten-Day Closure of the Library

Similar closure in 1992Union agreed to furlough, cuts$500,000 left to cutRepeating a ten-day closure that occurred in 1992, the 13 libraries in the Sonoma County Library, CA, system will close from 2 pm on Christmas More...

Pittsburgh Officials Look To Stave Off Library Closings

Library has relied on RAD, not cityBranches targeted had fewer visitsFinal budget vote December 14Perhapsfive branches of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) won't be closing, as previously announced. Yesterday, as CLP submitted an updated More...

Most Libraries in Ohio Win Their Levy Elections

30 out of 37 ballots successful for PLs"Unbelievable success rate," says OLCCincinnati last major OH city to institute local levySince state support for Ohio's public libraries was cut 30 percent this past summer, library systems More...

Bridgeport (CT) Voters Support Library Referendum; Big Boost in Budget

City may now charge for in-kind servicesLibrary can now keep up with inflationAdvocates achieved referendum via obscure lawIn a major boost for the long-suffering Bridgeport Public Library, CT, voters yesterday approved a novel referendum that More...

As Ohio Voters Face Library Levies, AV Fuels a Debate in Cincinnati

11 of 41 Cincinnati branches circulate more AVCould fee raise $6.9 million?Other libraries face leviesA Cincinnati Enquirer report that 11 of 41 branches of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (PLCHC) circulate more More...

For Library in Robbins, IL, Precarious Survival

Lower, delayed taxes a problemTown native Dwyane Wade gave $25,000New computers neededThe William Leonard Public Library District (WLPLD) in the impoverished south of Chicago suburb Robbins, IL, remains open, and should do so through November, More...

Proposed Budget for Anchorage Library Means Layoffs, Service Cuts

Library system could lose 13.5 % of already lean staffTech budget could be down more than 76%Support from local newspaperAnchorage Public Library(APL), AK, like many others, faces budget cuts in the next fiscal year. Mayor More...

Stung By State and City Cuts, Reading (PA) PL Plans To Close All Branches

Three branches, bookmobile to closeMayor meets with schoolchildrenSteady decline in funding, jobs, materialsWhile libraries around the state of Pennsylvania have been hampered by a 20% cut in state support, the Reading Public Library (RPL) has More...

Federal, Provincial Governments Will Support Central Library in Halifax, NS

22-year effortLibrary will add auditorium, many more featuresIn contrast to U.S., Canada emphasizes libraries as infrastructure investmentsProject seen as "easy to support"A 22-year effort toward a new central library in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has bounded More...

Toronto Reference Library Gets $3M (CAD) in Federal Stimulus Funds

Federal government sees library construction as stimulusFoundation aims to raise $10 million CADLead gift in May went to just-opened event spaceIn the United States, federal stimulus funds for libraries will focus especially on the expansion More...

State Support for Libraries in Pennsylvania Cut Nearly 27%

At one point, 55% overall cut considered20% cut in public library subsidiesBig hits to stateside card, databasesAfter nearly 100 days of deadlockon the Pennsylvaniastate budget, legislators last week agreedto a compromise, including a 26.7%slash in More...

Facing Budget Pressure, Oak Brook Draws on Consultant's Report To Lay Off Staff

Library staff resistant to consultant's reportRelatively high salariesExpert questions consultant's conclusionsDispute over library role[Update October 26: This article was originally written under the assumption that the head of technical services had been laid off, which More...

In Referendum, Voters in Bridgeport, CT, Will Get a Chance To Support Library

Would allocate 1 mill for the libraryResistance from city officialsNeed to identify likely voters for low-turnout electionIn a pathbreaking effort for urban libraries in Connecticut, supporters of the beleaguered Bridgeport Public Library (BPL) have drawn More...

In Gwinnett, Branch Won't Close as Proposed, but Will Become Computer Lab

Proposal to close branch generated protestNew plandesignates three regional librariesSystemwide reduced hours rejectedDacula residents still angryThe board of the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL), Lawrenceville, GA, won't close the three-year-old Dacula branch as announced last More...

DC Public Library Budget Is Cut 11 Percent

Central library open all year on SundaysLibrarians, not bookmobile, to visit schoolsDirector urges use of volunteersThe District of Columbia Public Library's (DCPL) FY10 budget cut of nearly 11 percent involves inevitable service cuts. With some More...

Around Academic Libraries, New Cuts and Charges

Go back to the Academic Newswirefor more storiesWU closes locations more reliant on digital resourcesUNC to rely on ILL, paid articlesToronto charges scholars for accessAcademic libraries are feeling the pinch of budget cuts and adjusting More...

Political "Winners"

As John Berry points out in "No Villains" (p. 24–25), politics doesn't produce clear-cut heroes and villains in library funding-nor in some other issues, as we've seen with the various versions of the health-care bill More...

Denver Proposes Closing Branch, Cutting Back Hours

Public, staff preferred no closuresBig materials budget cutNo staff layoffsDenver Public Library (DPL), which primarily is funded by the city's general fund, must reduce its 2010 budget by ten percent, or approximately $3 million, given More...

With No Budget Resolution in State Legislature, Philadelphia Library Warns of Closure

The city of Philadelphia has prepared a "doomsday budget" in case the state legislature doesn't approve a new sales tax, as LJ reported last month, andthe Free Library of Philadelphia is now warning starkly of More...

Michigan Library Supporters Rally at Capital

Some 500 Michigan librarians and library supporters, many of them wearing red t-shirts that said Protect Michigan Libraries, rallied yesterday at the capitol in Lansing against proposed state Senate cuts in statewide support for libraries. More...

Connecticut Won't Cut Library Aid, After Lobbying Pays Off

$5.4 million sought in savingsAll direct library aid would have been cutStatewide programs would have been axedThanks to strong lobbying, rallies, and positive press coverage, Connecticut legislators have passed a budget that maintains crucial state More...

Library in Robbins, IL, Will Remain Open in September

$21,584 raised will pay for a monthCongressman, state Senator pledge fundingTax revenues not expected until November Thanks to donations from the public, the William Leonard Public Library District (WLPLD) in impoverished Robbins, IL, has received More...

Michigan Governor Agrees To Prioritize Support for Two Programs, Revise State Librarian Position

Programs governor now supports targeted by SenateRally September 10State librarian will be designated within the Department of EducationVigorous advocacy by library supporters in Michigan has pushed Gov. Jennifer Granholm to modify her July 13 Executive More...

With Budgets Tight, Public Libraries Step Up Book Donation Programs

Fairfax County tweaks established Amazon programSanta Cruz establishes "win-win" with local booksellersLSSI's 1stReads made more customer friendlyFacing budget challenges, public librariesare revisiting ways to enhance their collections through donation programs. They're using tried-and-true methods, establishing More...

Hawaii Proposes Minimum of Two-Day Closures Each Month

Board previously rejected plan to close five of 51 libraries20 percent budget cutMaterials budget eliminatedRather than close five libraries to respond to a 20 percent budget cut, a plan rejected last month by the Hawaii More...

PA State Budget at Impasse; Aid To Libraries Could Be Cut 14% to 55%

Budget is two months lateBig differences between House and SenateState cuts lead to loss of federal aidPhiladelphia needs approval of sales tax increaseA state budget impasse lasting nearly two months has put Pennsylvania libraries in More...

In British Columbia, Provincial Support for Libraries Cut 22%

Weeks of worry that all funding would be cutHope that improved economy will restore serviceProvincial funding supports databases, reference, literacy BC OneCardAfter weeks in which library advocates feared a complete loss of provincial funds-which historically More...

In Robbins, IL, Library Threatened With Closure in Two Weeks

Appeal to ObamaVideo reportsHow to helpWhen, in 2005, LJ visited the William Leonard Public Library District (WLPLD) in Robbins, IL, the library was struggling. Now things are so bad for this impoverished suburb of Chicago, More...

In Gwinnett County, Plan To Close Three-Year-Old Branch Generates Uproar

Decision made without advance noticeLibrary faces nearly 10% cut in local supportBoard will consider sharing the burdenMajor protests are causing the board of the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL), Lawrenceville, GA, to reconsider its surprise More...

Carnegie Library of PittsburghFaces Falling Budget, Plans Advocacy, Changes

Sales tax revenues plummetAnticipated cut in state aidLibrary supporters oppose closing branchesFacing a decrease in Regional Asset District (RAD) sales tax collections, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburghmay see a loss or consolidation of branch locations More...

In Northern British Columbia, A Library Finds Consultants-In an Accounting Class

Creativity in a place where consultants are costlyLearning experience for students, staffCan there be a new measure of ROI?Prince George, the largest city in northern British Columbia, is isolated, a nine-hour drive from Vancouver and More...

Wealthy Chicago Suburb Prepares To Cut One-Third of Library Budget

Sales taxes from mall are downLAC hired to recommend $300K in cutsFriends urge temporary cuts, not permanent onesThe affluent Chicago suburb of Oak Brook has long relied on significant tax revenues from its large mall More...

Dallas Public Library Budget Could be Slashed by One-Third

Library hit disproportionatelyProposed cuts would take effect October 1Materials budget would plummetDallas Public Library (DPL) could lose one-third of its funding, a disproportionate cut,if a proposal before city council is approved. The City of Dallas More...

The Fallout from Budget Cuts: Ohio Library Council Cancels Convention

State budget cuts hit homeMost libraries would not have budget to send peopleAlternative methods of education programs exploredIn the wake of budget cuts that have devastated local library budgets, with a loss of up to More...

In Final Round of Grants, Gates Foundation Gives $6.5M To Upgrade Library Computers

Third round of hardware grantsPart of $350M in domestic library support$3.7M local match expectedThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced its third and final round of Opportunity Online hardware grants, $6.5 million in grants More...

In Final Ohio Budget, Libraries Will Lose Up to 30% of State Support

Expected PL cuts to total 30 percentTax revenues already down 20 percentPublic Library Fund reduced to 1.97 percentTwo weeks into the new fiscal year, Ohio lawmakers have finalized the state's two-year budget and, while libraries More...

Hawaii Libraries Face 20 Percent Budget Cut

Library system exempt from furlough planHowever, library would lose equivalent savings in budget cutsMorestaff and service cuts possibleIn response to an anticipated state deficit of $2 billion for FY2009-11, the Hawaii State Public Library System More...

Michigan Governor Proposes Killing Department of History, Arts, & Libraries, Dropping State Librarian

Go back to the Academic Newswirefor more storiesWould save $2 million in first yearMichigan Library Association warns of shortsightednessLegislature has 60 days to divideAiming to consolidate government during lean times, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has More...

Ohio Update:Proposed Library Cuts on Hold for Another Week

$3.2 billion budget gapLibraries' cut significantOne more week to debate budget[Updated July 7] With budget talks in Ohio again stalemated, the state legislature has approved and Governor Ted Strickland has signed another interim budget extension, More...

Tennessee Approves $47.5M for UTC Library; Student Helps Restores FSU Library Funds

Go back to the Academic Newswirefor more storiesUTC project on books since 1990Library way too smallFSU student lobbies for libraryThe Tennessee Legislature has agreed on a budget that includes $47.5 million for what the Chattanooga More...

Unlike Public Libraries, OhioLINK Faces Smaller Budget Cut

Go back to the Academic Newswirefor more storiesGovernor recommends smaller cut than does Senate$1 million cut still would hurtNew caution about licensing agreementsPublic libraries in Ohio face an unprecedented cut in state funding, to be More...

Editorial: Dear Governor Strickland

Dear Governor Strickland,At Library Journal, we've long touted the public libraries in your state as models. They are among the country's best. Two have been named our Library of the Year (Medina County and Worthington), More...

Public Libraries Benefit from Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grants

Recruitment of new librariansContinuing ed to improve skillsResearch into health issues, moreThe federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has awarded 33 grants totaling $20.4 million as part of the Laura Bush 21st Century More...

Proposed Connecticut Budget Slashes Library Aid

CT governor cuts $5.4 million in annual library aidILL, digital ibraries would witherLibrary supporters to rally in HartfordWith the State of Connecticut facing an $8 billion dollar deficit, Gov. Jodi Rell delivered a revised budget More...

Six-Day Service Saved in NYC Libraries, But at a Price

No official details yetSix-day service spared, with no layoffsStill, cuts estimated at 8%A 22% budget cut ofproposed for New York City's three library systems, which would have led to some 900 layoffs and devastated service, More...

Cincinnati Library Seeks Levy To Boost Budget

Only major urban library in state lacking local fundingState support, from income tax revenues, has droppedServices already slashed; branch closings possibleThe Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (PLCHC) will seek to supplement its state More...

Pierce County Library, WA, Plans for Future Expansion

Expansion within budget constraints20-year facilities master planPlans for future fiscal optionsFor the past several weeks, the Pierce County Library System (PCLS), Tacoma, WA, has been gathering ideas and opinions from thousands of people for its More...

NJ Legislature Drops Bill Halving Library Tax Base

League of Municipalities pushed billNJ Library Association fought backProperty tax reform still neededSome vigorous advocacy by library supporters has helped beat back a resolution pushed by the New Jersey League of Municipalities (NJLM) that wanted More...

NYC Library Leaders Testify Against Proposed Cuts

22% cut would be devastatingLibrary leaders say use increasesCouncil member optimistic about restoration of some fundsChanting 'Save our libraries,'; more than 120 people, a rainbow coalition wearing Queens Library (QL) hats and t-shirts, rallied yesterday More...

Kalamazoo, MI, Library Millage Renewed Thanks to Outreach Strategy

20-year millage renewed; amount flatIntensive awareness strategy aided successExtensive economies implementedIn a state with greater than average economic challenges, voters May 5 approved a 20-year millage rate renewal for Kalamazoo Public Library (KPL), MI. The More...

Muncie PL, IN, To Close Two of Five Facilities

Response to law mandating tax cutsBudget expected to decline for several yearsDirector responds in newspaper columnMuncie Public Library (MPL), IN, in anticipation of lower tax revenues, will close two out of five locations on June More...

California Voters Reject Ballot Propositions; Library Budget Cuts To Follow

All PLs, other services, affected by proposition failuresState to borrow local property tax revenuesNew state budget timing undeterminedCalifornia public libraries are about to suffer more cutbacks, as voters May 19 rejected ballot propositions that would More...

Minnesota Libraries Gain $4.25 Million for Arts and Cultural Programs

"Incredible win for libraries," says St. Paul Friends headSum is about ten percent of new arts fundingRegional library systems will distribute fundsThanks to some savvy lobbying and enlightened legislators, public libraries in Minnesota will get More...

Worcester, MA, Colleges Funds Restore Partial Library Hours

Library can restore some hoursBudget cut stillaffects Worcester Public LibraryDiscussions continue with other collegesLast November, LJ reportedthat officials in Worcester, MA, were hoping that several tax-exempt colleges would provide some funding for municipal services via More...