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July 6, 2010

New Jersey librarians to make plans for restored state funding

http://www.express-times.com

Tuesday, July 06, 2010
By BILL WICHERT
The Express-Times
New Jersey lawmakers last month agreed to restore about $4.3 million in state funding for public libraries, but only after residents called their elected officials and sent thousands of e-mails to legislators and Gov. Chris Christie.

The grass-roots campaign showed that New Jerseyans care about their libraries, said Barbara Rose, director of the Washington Public Library.

"It was encouraging that the people fought for what they needed," Rose said. "They let their voices be heard."

Now library representatives from across the state are scheduled to meet today with State Librarian Norma Blake to discuss how the restored funding would be applied to library programs and services.

Library officials said last week they anticipate the state dollars would help maintain some electronic databases and support an interlibrary loan program.

"For our patrons, this is great," said Ann DeRenzis, director of the Phillipsburg Free Public Library, referring to the databases. "There's something we can offer."

After Christie originally proposed cuts in library funding totaling more than $10.4 million, or 74 percent compared to fiscal year 2010 levels, the governor and the Legislature finalized a fiscal year 2011 budget last weekthat reduces funding by about $6 million for a total allotment of slightly under $8 million.

The restored funding also should ensure New Jersey libraries receive their share of federal dollars, said Patricia Tumulty, executive director of the New Jersey Library Association.

The roughly $6 million cut in state funding for public libraries still includes a 50 percent reduction in state aid to libraries. Faced with cuts in local funding as well, libraries around the state are already closing on certain days or reducing their evening hours, Tumulty said.

Referring to the state aid cuts, Tumulty added, "That's going to hurt some local libraries. There's no doubt about it."

On top of a roughly $28,000 cut in municipal funding this year, the Phillipsburg Free Public Library is anticipating a state aid reduction of $8,000, DeRenzis said. The Friends of Phillipsburg Free Public Library have provided financial assistance to the library, she said.

"You look for money in any place you can," DeRenzis said.

Given the limited funding, new fees might still be charged to library patrons looking to access materials through the interlibrary loan program, library officials said. Beginning May 1, the Sussex County Library system began charging users a per-item shipping fee of $7.

The New Jersey State Library currently covers the delivery costs related to transferring materials between libraries, but if those payments are no longer made, the Phillipsburg Free Public Library might have to charge a fee to offset delivery expenses, DeRenzis said.

Rose, of Washington, argued that libraries are meant to make services available to all residents and charging for services could exclude some users.

"We'll do whatever we can to avoid that," Rose said.

Reporter Bill Wichert can be reached at 610-258-7171, ext. 3570, or bwichert@express-times.com. Talk about issues in your town at lehighvalleylive.com/forums.

Posted by tumulty at July 6, 2010 2:54 PM

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