LISNews: Librarian News

ML Live has a Story on a little fight brewing in Michigan. Residents in one School District pay $1.6 Million a year for library services; their neighbors pay nothing. So managers are demanding all residents pay their fair share or possibly lose access to the library.

\"What we have said to them is, \'Look, we don\'t think this is fair. We would like you to join (our) district library.\' If they decide not to do that, we will terminate our contract.\"Sherry Hupp, Cromaine library director, said of the northern district residents. -- Read More

A Report from The Union Leader says that New Hampshire schools and libraries are missing out on more than $2 million a year in federal funds due to overwhelming paper work.

\"There is a tremendous amount of paperwork, and it changes\" annually, said Theresa Pare, a librarian with the New Hampshire State Library. The program is now in its fourth year, and none of the paperwork is the same as previous years, she said.
\"The application process has been horrendous,\" agreed Judy Fillion, a director with the state Department of Education. -- Read More

Will Gov. George Pataki and the Legislature approve the spending? Read about it Here. From the Syracuse Post-Standard.

The state board that oversees New York\'s public libraries
is recommending $90 million to pay for physical improvements for library buildings over the next five years.

The state Board of Regents said Tuesday that New York\'s 1,080 public libraries need $800 million for construction, while the state spends just $800,000
annually. The regents said their proposal, \"Libraries 2001,\"
would provide a \"first step\" toward meeting that goal.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donates to Chicago\'s library system. Read about it Here. From the The Chicago Tribune

Chicago\'s library system will receive money and gifts totaling $1 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to expand public access to the Internet, Mayor Richard Daley announced Thursday.