Clinton Budget May Cut School Library Funding

Staff -- School Library Journal, 3/1/1998

Public libraries would receive the same funding as last year, but schools would lose a block grant that helps them buy library books in President Clinton's proposed FY99 federal budget. On the bright side for schools, the president would provide additional money to help buy hardware and software and train teachers to use technology.

ALA's Washington Office released a breakdown of the school and library components of the budget last week. It showed money for public library programs, which comes through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, staying stable, at $146 million. Money for school technology programs under the president's Technology Literacy Challenge Fund would go up $50 million, from $425 million in FY98.

But as he did last year, the president proposed no funding for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act's Title VI, a block grant that many schools use to buy library books. Lobbying efforts by ALA's Washington Office and an Illinois congressman ultimately helped secure $350 million for the program in the current fiscal year.