MI Unlocks $7 Million in Library Funds

Michigan residents can breathe a sigh of relief—the state legislature in June released $7 million in library grants that had been frozen.

That means the state's 349 libraries are relatively safe through this fiscal year, which ends September 30. But funding for next year is still up in the air.

News of the 11th-hour reprieve was delivered in a June 11 e-mail from State Librarian Nancy Robertson, says Gretchen Couraud, the Michigan Library Association's (MLA) executive director. "I think legislators really heard us when we talked about how, in a down economy, people use their libraries more than ever for computer access, for job hunting, and for information."

But the lobbying isn't over yet, since Governor Jennifer Granholm has proposed a 50 percent cut in library funds for FY 2008. Michigan's libraries currently receive about $12 million per year.

One hopeful note is that although the governor's proposed cut passed the state senate, the Democratic-controlled house has not acted on it. "We're very hopeful we can restore some of the funding and not have a full 50 percent cut in next year's budget," Couraud says.

Michigan's libraries and library cooperatives face a shortfall of almost $1 billion, the MLA director explains, because the legislature this fiscal year eliminated a key "single business" tax. Another billion dollar shortfall is expected for next year.

Compared to other states, Michigan's library funding is paltry. While the national average is $3.21 per capita, Michigan spends just $1.17 per capita, with the balance covered by property taxes, millage, trucking, and other fines. The 50 percent cut Granholm requested would further reduce Michigan's expenditure to 60 cents.

Couraud is hoping for no more than a 10 percent cut. "It's still tough," she adds. "Would we be thrilled? No, but 10 percent would be more palatable than 50 percent."