PA Cuts Endanger Library Subscription Sites
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By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 9/30/2009 2:05:00 PM
If Pennsylvania lawmakers approve proposed cuts in the state budget, many K–12 students may lose access to valuable research databases at their school and public libraries.
“Everyone is planning for the worst, but hoping for the best,” says Susan L. Hauer, administrator for the Library System for Lancaster County. “But we know we are going to get some kind of cut.”
Students at 412 of the 501 school districts in the state depend on Pennsylvania’s POWER Library databases, which include online encyclopedias and digital subscriptions to magazines and other editorial sites used frequently for school and homework. While money for that program falls under Library Access funding, and rang in at $11.1 million for the 2008–2009 fiscal year, some lawmakers have suggested cutting that by 73 percent—to just $3 million for this year.
But no one knows, because so far the state has yet to adopt a new budget, which should have started July 1. Although Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has asked for a bill on his desk by this Sunday, public and school libraries are still unclear what the final version will look like because lawmakers won’t release any new numbers.
“The precise numbers in the final budget are still subject to negotiation,” says Gary Tuma, Rendell’s press secretary. “We’re holding off releasing that until there is an agreement.”
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Susan L. Hauer, administrator for the Library System for Lancaster County. |
That’s why Miller is asking PaLA’s members, and the public at large, to email and call Rendell and local lawmakers to explain how critical Library Access programs are to their students, schools, and public library patrons.
“If we eliminate that program, where are those kids, teachers, and librarians going to turn?” he asks. “The question is going to be how much of the public library package will be funded so that Library Access can survive.”
