Brown's proposed budget eliminates state funding for public libraries

[The Straight Story]

Brown's proposed budget eliminates state funding for public libraries

New California Gov. Jerry Brown, facing tremendous budget problems, has proposed a statewide budget that eliminates state spending on public libraries entirely. Those cuts amount to around $30 million.

If Brown's budget is passed as is, it will eliminate state funding for the Public Library Foundation, Transaction Based Reimbursement and the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Service. Public libraries across the state also receive funding from other sources.

A response to Brown's proposed budget by California Library Assn. President Paymaneh Maghsoudi has been posted on the organization's website.

The proposed cuts unveiled by the governor will not only jeopardize library hours, staff positions, and the availability of books and materials, they will also potentially dismantle the cooperative system of borrowing and loaning books, known as Transaction Based Reimbursement (TBR), that has existed statewide for over three decades. Incidentally, a cut of this magnitude to the TBR could make the state ineligible for the federal match that is a part of this program. Lastly, in 2007 alone, more than 20,000 adult learners participated in the state literacy program, benefitting native English speaking adults who have never learned to read, or the K-12 schooling system has failed them. The elimination of the state funding for this program would be truly heartbreaking for individuals and families who desperately need this assistance.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/01/brown-budget-eliminates-california-library-funding.html

[frazzled]

1. Oh, Jerry. Bad Move.

Cut $30 million from something else. Libraries are one of the last democratic institutions, and they disproportionately aid the poor: people who don't have the money to buy books and who have no computer or Internet service at home. Sometimes it's just a quiet, peaceful place for people to work or think.

A year and a half ago, we visited the Seattle Public Library, designed by Rem Koolhas. I went intended to be wowed by the architecture (and I certainly was). But I was even more wowed by the huge number of people inside on a rainy Saturday. Every single computer station (and there were many) was being used. People were waiting for the next opening. There were people in every nook and cranny reading books and doing work.

Funding for libraries should be increased, not decreased. I'm sure there's plenty of other things in California to nick $30M off of. Leave the libraries (and schools) alone.

[2Design]

2. cut pensions payout of over 100,000 and pensions that are more than

50% of their initial salary - those abuses are killing every state

[Hannah Bell]

7. ?

[dsc]

14. that would devastate elderly teachers

my dad made 6k his first year of teaching (not subbing but teaching).

[Bucky]

3. I'm guessing that he didn't have any good moves left

This is what austerity means. It certainly can get worse.

[Hannah Bell]

8. i'm guessing he did, but they involved taxing the rich.

[customerserviceguy]

4. Libraries are becoming an anachronism

Once we get past the messy copyright issues, books will be available to anyone with cheap Internet access, that will likely be provided by the state. At that point, large edifices that are expensive to maintain will just be too costly.

Jerry's ahead of the curve on this one.

[prairierose]

5. Many people are too poor for all of that...

our local library is full of poor people and kids. This is the place they have access to the internet and books. It is a very busy place. Libraries are incredibly important to our future.

Our library also provides computer classes to teach people how to use a computer and the internet. How many other free places are there for poor people to learn and practice those skills?

[customerserviceguy]

12. One of them is called 'school'

and before long, we'll be at the point where just about everybody who wants to use a computer has had access to training on how to use one in a public school. I'm sure there are senior centers now where some can teach others how to use one.

[Hannah Bell]

9. i'm guessing you've never used one.

my little local library is full every day.

[customerserviceguy]

13. I used to

Other than borrowing a few DVD's, I haven't been to one in a couple of years. I get books very cheap from the Internet, and I don't have to worry about how long I take to read them. That's replacing libraries, too.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Unless taxes DO GO UP

he has his hands tied... something bout drowning gov... in a bathtub.

In this state this ain't gonna happen. People here are just allergic to this thing about taxes and fire services... libraries even less.

[kestrel91316]

10. Exceptionally BAD move. Gerry, cut corporate welfare 100% before

shutting down the libraries.

WTF are you THINKING???

[Motown_Johnny]

11. Benjamin Franklin would not approve