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April 14, 2010

Where's all the "sharing'?

c-n.com
Letters to the Editor

April 10, 2010

On Jan. 22 of this year, Gov. Chris Christie accepted his transition team's report on reforming state government. It recommended that the state "play a greater role in encouraging shared local government services, something Christie supports, as a way to help cut property taxes, and for major technology improvements," as quoted at newjerseynewsroom.com.

On March 17, the governor instead proposed a budget that eliminates all shared government services, including "major technology improvements," to New Jersey public libraries.
He did this by cutting 74 percent of the State Library's budget, which has provided at no or little cost to public libraries:
— Shipping of books not owned by one library to another;
— Shared cataloging;
— Grant writing and grant coordination;
— Databases not available free on the Internet;
— Staff training.

In addition, he halved the state aid given directly to public libraries.
Instead of using shared government services to implement "major technology improvements," he has eliminated the state library as Internet service provider, web host, technology consultant, and e-mail provider to more than half of New Jersey's public libraries.

Perhaps even worse, because the state library cannot now provide matching funds, it must give up more than $4.5 million in federal grant money already won for "major technology improvements" and has disqualified the state from competing for $7.5 million in federal grants already applied for, to bring broadband access to New Jersey public libraries.
New Jersey public libraries will now have to pay for all these services out of their already diminished budgets (because of the reduction in local state aid and other factors) to buy these services elsewhere, or more likely, eliminate them due to lack of funds.
Citizens concerned about the evisceration of public library service in the state should access the website www.savemynjlibrary.org to see how they can help.

CHRISTINE M. HILL
Assistant Director
Willingboro Public Library

Posted by tumulty at April 14, 2010 12:55 PM

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