Texas Library Budget Crisis

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, [librarians are] “normally a quiet bunch” but about 250 from all corners of the state made some noise Wednesday at the Texas Capitol as they tried to head off looming budget cuts that would virtually eliminate state support for public libraries.

“If these programs are not funded, then it will affect every community, every school and every institution of higher education in the state,” said Gloria Meraz, communications director for the Texas Library Association.

The cutbacks could mean reduced access to TexShare, a mammoth database service available in 677 libraries, and to a K-12 database provided for 4.5 million Texas schoolchildren and 500,000 educators.

“If the Fort Worth Public Library had to negotiate for the TexShare database on their own, it would cost $2 million a year,” said Peggy Rudd, director of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Also targeted for elimination is funding for TexNet Interlibrary Loan programs and Loan Star Library Grants, which provides money to extend hours and other services.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/16/2855602/at-texas-capitol-librarians-protest.html#ixzz1EFTpju6Q