Budget Impact on Academic Libraries

Earlier today, Robin Martin, of Central College, asked me to explain just how the Governor's proposed cuts to library services would impact academic libraries. Most of my experience has been with public libraries, so I bumped that query up to Mary Wegner, the State Librarian. Below is her response:

"Here's a partial answer to your question about the impact of the governor's proposal budget cuts to Iowa academic libraries:

The governor's budget proposes a cut of $725,000 to the Enrich Iowa funding line. Enrich Iowa is made up of three programs: Direct State Aid (for public libraries only); Open Access; and Access Plus.

There are at least three scenarios regarding the impact of the potential cut:

IF the cut of $725,000 is taken entirely from the Direct State Aid program, the result will be a cut of approximately 75% to the Direct State Aid checks for each of the nearly 500 participating public libraries. The exact amounts are shown in the spread that you have already distributed, Mike. In this scenario, the $725,000 cut to Enrich Iowa would primarily affect public libraries and their customers.

IF the cut of $725,000 is taken entirely from the Open Access and Access Plus programs, the approximate result would be a cut in per transaction funding for Open Access from $.34 to $.18, and a cut in per transaction reimbursement for Access Plus loans from $1.75 to $1.21. (There are many variables to take into account - this is the best estimate that we can make.) In this scenario, all participants in Open Access and Access Plus - public, academic, and school libraries - are affected. An individual library could determine the approximate impact of the cut by estimating that next year's Open Access reimbursement would be about half of the payment received this year, and estimating about a $.54 reduction in the Access Plus payment per loan.

A third option, of course, would be to make cuts to all three of the programs.

The decision about where to apply the cuts - if necessary - will likely be in the hands of the Commission of Libraries.

Another way academic libraries are affected by the proposed cuts is that a $135,000 cut to the State Library operating budget (1) pretty much eliminates our book-buying budget and (2) makes it impossible for us to purchase the test preparation database (LearningExpressLibrary) for Iowa libraries, and a lot of academic as well as public libraries have expressed interest in that database."

The complexity of Mary's explanation is due to the wide-spread cooperation between Iowa's public and academic libraries. State aid facilitates the sharing of resources. Cut that aid and a wonderful system gradually grinds to a halt.

If you agree that Direct State Aid to public libraries, Open Access, Access Plus, the State Library, and the Library Service Areas, please express your opinion to Governor Culver and ask your local legislators to restore state funding for library services to at least FY2008 levels.

Thanks for your support!

As always, please contact me with questions or suggestions: MikeDargan@iowalibraryassociation.org