ILA President Urges Governor and General Assembly Leadership to Support Funding for Illinois Libraries
ILA President Brad Baker sent letters today in support of funding for Illinois libraries to the Honorable Rod R. Blagojevich; Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White; Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, Jr.; Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Michael J. Madigan; Illinois Senate Minority Leader Frank C. Watson; and Illinois House of Representatives Minority Leader Tom Cross. The letter to Governor Blagojevich follows:

Friday, 29 February 2008

The Honorable Rod R. Blagojevich
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706

Dear Governor Blagojevich:

As President of the Illinois Library Association (ILA) and on behalf of our 3,000 members, we respectfully request that you support funding for Illinois libraries. Illinois libraries have lost significant funding since 2000. Total state support in FY 2000 of $82,548,000 has been steadily declining. In FY 2007 the state budget for libraries was $64,358,100, representing a loss of $18,189,900, or 22 percent, in seven years. This loss does not even consider the further reductions due to rising costs. These cuts affect all types and sizes of libraries across Illinois, at a time when the need for libraries has never been greater. Research and reading skills learned from library use contribute to individual and economic growth.

We applaud you and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White for supporting an increase in public library per capita grants contained in your proposed 2008-2009 budget. We also support the Secretary’s proposal contained in House Bill 4527 that would modestly increase public library equalization grants and school library grants. We ask for your support for Senate Bill 2321 that provides an avenue for additional funding to county law libraries for their important work in serving judges, lawyers, and litigants, and to increase access to the courts for pro se litigants. The bill allows individual county boards to determine the appropriate charge for their county.

There are, however, some additional funding needs not yet addressed.

Library Systems
Illinois Library Systems are the glue that makes library cooperation work. Illinois residents can access more than 50 million volumes and 20 million square feet of library service area and programs available at the 2,500 libraries that are members of library systems. However, due to shrinking funding, the effectiveness of library systems is significantly hampered. Restoring funding to earlier levels is essential.

Library systems are currently receiving $1.2682 per capita and $47.4326 per square mile. Library systems in Illinois cooperate to provide essential services to the citizens of Illinois through their academic, public, school, and corporate/hospital/law libraries. To continue this cooperation and expected high level of library services, library systems need additional state funds. There has been no increase in library systems funding since 1992, and there was a 12 percent additional cut in 2004. Mergers of systems have occurred, but the larger areas of service reduce the ability to meet the needs of the various libraries in Illinois. In order to fund the current statutory formula, an additional $2.5 million is required.

Academic Libraries
Academic libraries have lost buying power as materials prices have risen 7 percent to 9 percent per year and state funding has remained flat for state academic libraries, leading to greater loss of purchasing power. An increase in funding for electronic resources would offset these losses and benefit all types of libraries in Illinois. Academic libraries need statewide investment in shared electronic storage facilities, digitization on demands, next generation resource discovery, and electronic backfiles.

School Libraries
The Illinois School Library Media Association has been working with the Illinois State Board of Education to introduce a program to provide access to electronic databases for all K-12 students. This $2.5 million online resources program is crucial to ensuring our students remain competitive in a technology-dominated world.

Capital Funding
Finally, we ask that you support the inclusion of libraries in any capital projects bill passed by the Illinois General Assembly. There are many infrastructure needs in Illinois, including roads and schools. Please remember the capital needs of Illinois libraries and ensure that a capital project bill has a specific allocation for Illinois state and local libraries

All of these funding requests are extremely modest when compared to the incredible benefits received and number of Illinois residents served. Thank you for your past support of Illinois libraries. Please support your constituents’ libraries through the funding initiatives outlined in this letter.

Very truly yours,

Bradley F. Baker
2007-2008 ILA President

cc: Rep. Lou Lang; Sen. Donne E. Trotter; Rep. Cynthia Soto; Rep. Suzanne Bassi; Rep. Monique D. Davis; Rep. Robert Biggins; Sen. Chris Lauzen; Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg; Sen. Dave Syverson