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May 13, 2010

Gov. Christie, don't cut funding to New Jersey libraries

nj.com

By Hunterdon County Democrat
May 12, 2010, 4:14PM

Hunterdon County Library in Raritan Township
In the clamor for lower taxes and leaner government, the benefits of so-called shared services are often touted. It seems intuitively obvious that sharing personnel and equipment can yield cost savings for everyone.

But — is it true? And — should price be the determining factor?

There’s no question that shared services can yield benefits… at least sometimes. Perhaps one of the best examples of shared services is also one of the first, and that’s our state’s library system. In addition to sharing books and periodicals, the system also shares technical assistance with libraries around the state, which may borrow books not only from other members in New Jersey, but from around the country.

That’s why we’re concerned about Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to cut funding for the state’s libraries by about 74%, to $10.4 million. In the absence of a plan to replace existing library services with a less-expensive alternative, this sounds like a classic “penny-wise, pound-foolish” decision.

It remains to be seen whether the sharing in some areas — such as police or road departments — yield taxpayer savings or better tax-paid services. But there’s no disputing the success of our state library system, which has seen increased demand for services in this time of economic strife.

To Gov. Christie, we place a finger to our lips and offer to his cost-cutting plan the librarian’s traditional retort: “Sshhhhhhhhhh!”

Posted by tumulty at May 13, 2010 5:40 PM

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