I know you\x92re all very worried about the proposed cuts to the NJ State Library and the NJ State Library\x92s Talking Book and Braille Center and how these cuts will affect youth services programming in all public libraries statewide. Here\x92s a breakdown of what the proposed cuts mean and what you can do:

Sharon Rawlins, Youth Services Consultant, NJ State Library

Facts about Library Funding

1. The State\x92s FY11 draft budget includes 74% funding cuts for the state\x92s libraries ($10.4 million dollars).

This includes $4.3M in Network Aid, $3.5M in Per Capita State Aid, $1.4M in NJ Knowledge Initiative Aid and $1.2M in Virtual Aid.

The Statewide Summer Reading Program is included under the $4.3M in Network Aid and will cease after this summer if the budget is cut. If you want this program to continue for your library\x92s customers of all ages please go to the New Jersey Library Association\x92s webpage and become a Library Champion at http://www.ilovenjlibraries.org. This website also has more information about the proposed budget cuts and other related library issues.

Members of the State Library and local libraries will lose the following services:

\x95 Interlibrary loan and delivery \x95 Electronic resources on health care, business, education, etc. \x95 Email, internet access and help desk services for most of the public libraries in New Jersey \x95 Public library staff and materials paid for by Per Capita State Aid would be reduced an additional 50% for a total reduction of $5M over the last 3 years.

1. By losing this state aid, New Jersey loses annually $4.5M in federal aid, and the opportunity to qualify to receive stimulus funding in the amount of $7.5M to assist the unemployed, the underemployed and small businesses.

2. By losing this state aid, the federal funds used to support the Talking Book and Braille Center for the blind and handicapped will be lost.

3. The funding for the State Library ($4.9M) has been removed from the FY11 budget. These funds are used for research, circulation and the Law Library where legislative histories are created.

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