Will Bush Still Be Kind to Libraries?
Continued support expected from Bush administration, Republican Congress
By Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 12/1/2004
Will a second Bush administration be kind to librarians? If history serves as any guide, the profession shouldn't fare too badly.
Under his first term, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act. Although the president is still $26 billion short of fully funding the education reform bill, it did lead to the creation of the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program, the first time in more than 30 years that federal money had been specifically allocated to school libraries. Sure, library supporters want to see the program fully appropriated at $250 million. But until that day arrives, Bush and members of Congress have faithfully increased funding for the program, from $12.5 million in 2002 to $19.8 million in 2004.
What's in store for next year? The president has proposed that school libraries continue to receive $19.8 million in 2005, and Congress is still ironing out its differences, with the House proposing $19.8 million for the program and the Senate proposing $22.8 million. While the final amount won't be clear until legislators pass their 2005 budget, one thing is certain: unlike other education programs that recently got the ax, school libraries will continue to receive government funding.
"[Bush] has always been supportive of libraries, whether it's because of [former school librarian] Laura Bush or because he understands the benefits of school libraries," says Emily Sheketoff, the executive director of the American Library Association's Washington office. "He's increased funding for libraries over the years, and he's recognized our problems and has tried to help us."
Bush also continues to support the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), which provides grants to libraries to pay for things ranging from databases to collection development and summer reading programs. LSTA funding has risen from $191 million in 2004, with the president requesting $220 million for next year.
President Bush has shown his support for the profession in another important way—by creating the Recruitment of Librarians for the 21st Century program in 2003 to help attract and retain librarians. In its first year, the LSTA program was funded at $9.9 million and the administration is requesting $23 million for 2005.
A Republican-controlled Congress shouldn't have an effect on library funding. "There has been bipartisan support for libraries no matter who is in the White House and no matter which party rules the Senate," says Sheketoff. "That's because they recognize the crucial contribution that libraries make to this country."
