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May 5, 2010

Library Cuts Hurt Everyone

May 4, 2010
http://maplewoodblogs.nytimes.com

By PAMELA ERENS
Pamela Erens is a Maplewood resident, a novelist and a member of Maplewood Library Champions. In this opinion article, she takes aim at Governor Christie’s proposed cuts to the library budget.

A portion of Gov. Christopher J. Christie’s proposed state budget that most New Jersey residents seem unaware of involves drastic cuts to our state library system. In my hometown of Maplewood, even many of the longtime and enthusiastic library users I speak to don’t know that these cuts are on the horizon and what they could mean.

Governor Christie wants to decrease state library funding by 74 percent. What would be the impact on, say, Maplewood’s libraries? Well, just for a start, Maplewood Library could lose its Web site. That means, among other things, that patrons will no longer be able to search the catalog at home. For elderly and housebound residents, this is not just an inconvenience but an impediment to using the library at all.

No longer will patrons be able to use many of Maplewood Library’s online research databases. If the library chooses to start paying for the absolutely essential ones, other important library services may have to be be cut or, alternatively, local taxes will eventually go up to cover these costs.

No longer will patrons be able to get books via Inter-library Loan (ILL). I am a writer who depends heavily on ILL when doing research for my books and articles. Many of the materials ILL makes available are prohibitively expensive for individuals to purchase and/or very hard to obtain. ILL also offsets the unavoidable limitations on the holdings of any one local library. What are libraries for if not to provide access to the printed word?

No longer will blind and handicapped patrons be able to obtain Talking Books and books in Braille. The New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center will cease operations.

Another program that will take a hit is the state-wide Summer Reading Club. The state-wide children’s coordinator position will be eliminated. Governor Christie has talked about the need to consolidate services in the state. The state-wide Summer Reading Club is a perfect example of consolidation, but the governor wants to eliminate it.

Governor Christie’s plan is extremely short-sighted. Few institutions contribute more to their communities, at as little cost, as local libraries. Libraries are places where people of all socioeconomic levels can gather for self-education, lectures, cultural events and skills training. They are places where job-hunters and job-changers can improve their chances of finding employment. They are places where older children can safely congregate after school.

The state supports our libraries in two different ways: through direct funding and through statewide services such as the about-to-be-eliminated research databases. Direct funding has remained flat for the past 20 years. The statewide services cost the state about one dollar per capita. New Jersey libraries are not part of our state budget problem.

I hope that all New Jersey residents will realize what will occur in a matter of weeks unless they take action and write to the governor and their representatives opposing the proposed cuts. An easy place to start is at http://capwiz/com/ala/nj/home. This New Jersey Library Association Web site page makes it easy to send an e-mail or letter to the recipients who matter.

Posted by tumulty at May 5, 2010 9:31 AM

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